The Sound of Music

I know without a doubt that my daughter, Kristen, is a great mother. My eight week old granddaughter will have a beautiful, close relationship with her.  Certainly brings me peace because that is how it should be.  Don't have children unless you really want them. My mother shouldn't have had the four of us. She was modeling in Detroit and then bang....she was pregnant with me. I am number ONE. I cooked and cleaned and was reminded  almost daily that I ruined her modeling career. If I was more knowledgeable at the time I would have told her that 5'2" models are not in demand. I don't care how beautiful you are.. You have to be taller and don't blame your...it never would have happened anyway career...on me.  All four of us kids..walked on egg shells.

So when she would leave for the afternoon I was free...yes free and I would...get on my bike...ride as fast as I could to the drug store and buy a shit load of candy for the four of us. We would pig out until we were sick. My sister Patrice, 7 years younger than me, once complained to me of a stomach ache and I told her to keep her damn mouth shut. I remember grabbing her hand and in a fast walk took her in the bath room. I picked her up and head down held her over the toilet.... "WANT ME TO FLUSH YOU DOWN???  I WILL IF YOU TELL MOM I WENT AND BOUGHT CANDY. "
My sister Joan, 5 years younger than me, and brother Rick, 9 years younger, stood in the door way.  "Just do it, Susan, cause she's got a big mouth."
Poor Patrice...crying..."No...No...I promise."

When we were left alone...the sky was the limit... As soon as that car rolled down the driveway...I would turn on the HI FI....  Now there's a term from the past.
I would get out one of mom's favorite record albums....THE SOUND OF MUSIC, put it on the turn table and play it full blast.  Singing out loud with Julie Andrews.  And this day was no different..
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE...LA DE..DA...WITH THE SOUND...THE SOUND...THE SOUND...
Crap...the album was skipping..there was a chip...she will find out...I'm as good as dead.. .. My life as boring as it is....is over once mom finds out... Why??..because she told me a million times to NEVER touch her record albums.. The Sound of Music....Dean Martin... Frank Sinatra... her entire collection was off limits to me...

At the dinner table that night the four of us sat in panic. I was afraid of mom...Joan and Rick were afraid FOR ME... and Patrice was afraid of the toilet. I had no idea what to do.

The next day when I got home from school..mom was out running errands before dad got home...but damn on the kitchen table was a note addressed to me.
SUSAN... You are in big trouble...you ruined my Sound of Music album and you will be punished when I get home.
Now..here stands a kid scared shitless...Until I had an idea. I told Joan,"You are in charge...I will be right back."
I grabbed the album and rode my bike as fast as I could and rode to K-Mart. I walked in the music department and told them I bought the record here and it skips...so I just want another one. I had no idea where mom bought it. But K-Mart was close. THEY GAVE ME A NEW ONE. Back home I rode, took the paper off the album and put the new one right in place like it was there all the time.
Mom was livid when she walked in and marched to the record player. She pulled the record out like it was a gift from God, placed it on the turn table and turned it on. THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC...and on it went.....
I love you Julie Andrews like never before, I thought.
My mother was in shock."It was skipping before."
"Are you sure mom?"
"Yes I'm sure."
"It must have been a piece of dust," I added.
"Well......maybe."
The next time the four of us were together I reminded Patrice.....the toilet will always be there if you tell... 




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