Special Napkins
My mother
taught me to read when I was three years old (her first mistake). One day, I was in the
bathroom and noticed one of the cabinet doors was ajar. I read the box in the cabinet. I
then asked my mother why she was keeping 'napkins' in the bathroom. Didn't they belong in
the kitchen??? Not wanting to burden me with unnecessary facts, she told me that those
were for
“special
occasions.”
Now fast forward a few months.... It's Thanksgiving Day, and my folks are leaving to pick
up the Pastor and his wife for dinner. Mom had assignments for all of us while they were
gone. Mine was to set the table. When they returned, the Pastor came in first and
immediately burst into laughter. Next came his wife who gasped, then began giggling. Next
came my father, who roared with laughter. Then came Mom, who almost died of embarrassment
when she saw each place setting on the table with a
“special occasion” napkin at
each plate, with the fork carefully arranged on top. I had even tucked the little tail in
so they didn't hang off the edge!!??!!.
My mother asked me why I used these and, of course, my response sent the other adults into
further fits of laughter.
“But, Mom,
you SAID they were for special occasions!”