It was a warm summer evening in the 1950s. In the neighborhood, we had just had a potluck street party, and the witching hour (bedtime) had arrived for the children.
Mom asked Dad to put us to bed, which was cool with us; Daddy was an easier pushover than Mom. Maybe he'd let us watch some TV instead? No, he was anxious to get back to dance with Mom.
He tucked me in and went to my brother's room to tuck him in next....I jumped out of bed and onto Daddy's back....and thus began the game: Johnny and I wouldn't stay in bed and were taking turns climbing on his back while he fussed with the other one.
We were all giggling and carrying on with Dad cornered in the hallway, when he swung from one to catch the other and put his backside thru the sheetrock!
What would Mom say!!! Dad, always quick on his feet, announced that the clothes shute to the basement laundry room was halfway constructed!
Yes, Mom was upset at first, but she got a new, completed shute a few days later.
