The outline of sunlight laying on the floor formed a silhouette of the windows of the west wall of the living room. The picture of the late afternoon sunlight broken only by the shadows of the window braces stretched across the room to barely touch the toes of the shoes of the three teenage boys who were enveloped in the pillow back sofa that seemed to wrap them in safety.
Or was the couch actually a prison, securing them as surely as the iron bars of a prison cell.
Opposit them, in straight backed wooden chairs, their prosecutors sat side by side. A hairbreadth of space further on, sat their judge, draped in an infants receiving blanket rather than the usual black judicial robes.
Bobby, shifted uncomfortably in his seat and with a face full of curiosity he leaned forward to speak. “Trixie? What’s going on? Why did you and Diana and Honey call us over here?”
Trixie ground out her words, her face almost black with anger. “Robert Belden! If Moms knew the language you were using, I know that she would wash your mouth out with the strongest soap that she could find.”
Diana interrupted and spoke to her brothers. “Larry and Terry Lynch, I saw that. You sighed and grinned in relief like you think you aren’t the one in trouble, but you shouldn’t relax just yet. Mummy will hear about this, and in addition to the soap, I would bet that you will both be grounded for a month.”
Trixie stood up and advanced to loom over the boys. “I am sure that you probably heard this language at school from other guys. But I know that both Daddy and Mr. Lynch will be so disappointed in the three of you. I don’t even want to guess what Jim, Brian, Mart, or Dan will say. I don’t think they would even use these words talking among themselves, and I am certain that none of them would ever use these words in front of the ‘little pictures with big ears’ that are Joseph and Danielle.”
Each of the boys struggled to extricate themselves from the incarceration of the sofa. When they were free, they each stood shoulder to shoulder facing their accuser.
Terry exclaimed, “Just what the heck are you talking about Trixie? We have never used any bad language in front of the kids.”
Diana huffed at her brothers. “Well, it isn’t exactly bad language. But is sure isn’t respectful to talk about a woman’s chest as bosoms and ta ta’s. Especially since this month is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Honey was nursing Brianna today, when Nellie Bean started talking about ta ta’s and Joey talked about buzzooms.”
The three boys each started talking at the same time. Finally, Bobby let loose with the shrill whistle of a Bobwhite quail. “Look. You listen to us. We have never used that sort of language. Don’t you think that our parents taught us better than that?”
A screen door slammed nearby accompanied by the excited chatter of two young children. The six combatants turned towards the living room door and watched as Joey carrying a Buzz Lightyear toy and Nellie Bean holding a small bean sprout each dragged their fathers into the room. As soon as the children saw the boys, they ran to their Uncle Bobby and grabbed him to get his attention.
“Buzzoom” said Joey and Nellie Bean shrieked, “Ta Ta!”
Trixie and Dinah yelled in unison, “See? We knew that it had to be one of you! Bobby, I am so ashamed … Robert Belden, why are you laughing?This isn’t at all funny!”
With tears running down his cheeks, Bobby chortled, “Let me translate dear sister. Buzzoom is ‘Buzz Lightyear goes zoom’. See the way Joey is waving Buzz around?”
Trixie humphed and said, “Maybe so. But why is Nellie Bean saying ta ta?”
Bobbie grinned and rolled his eyes as he said, “Don’t you see that her bean plant sprouted? She isn’t saying ta ta. She is saying, ‘Tah Dah!”
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