With proudness and happy thoughts, I recall Gloria's 1941 Birthday Party, as we were told by Mom, we would move to the big "Bigleow" House, the very next day, on Grafton St, which was Sunday 7 Dec 41. Geno & I walked around the old House sat on-the-dumb steps, where weeks before Mom took a picture of Geneva, Gloria, and Mom ordered me to sit next to Gloria, yes I sat, for a picture, as Geno ran away to the back yard, he escaped from that picture!
Being only 7 yrs old, Gilbert told me to carry that chair, to the truck that George was gonna drive to the new Grafton St house, which was like 2 miles away, still in Esparto. Gene and I toted various household items to the truck, gave them to George, and played around a bit, then toted a few more items that Gilbert, demanded we carry back to George, all morning this went on, then Mother, said "Come in and eat", we surely did, I enjoyed eating Mush, and I recall standing on the same back-yard concrete 3 step porch thinking about the time the young Glenda, slipped on some ice, and hit a 2 qt milk bottle, which broke, her fall, but gave beautiful young Glenda's face a cut, which she displayed thru-out her life!
Being told to climb the pickup, both Geno & climb on top of a couple mattresss and a lamp, which we hung on to,so we both would not fall, and keep us in the pickup, for this upcoming 2 mile road to our New
Home.
Upon arrival at the Grafton Home, we unloaded a few things, while Mom, Geneva, Gloria, and Glenda all entered the house, and Geno, and me, started to throw a football back & forth. Of couse both Gil & Geo, jumped in and started to throw much longer passes, and told us to chase the ball and return it, suddenly it wasn't much fun anymore.
Thanks to Mom, who came out, with a strange-facial impression, saying, "Come here, all of you", she then said, "Just a moment ago, President FDR, said "We are at WAR", Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and we are now at War against Japan", then suddenly Mother, standing by us, "Made the sign of the cross over her heart"! I still have no idea, where Dad was at that time, but Geno ran inside, Gil & Geo got in the pickup drove somewhere!
Then both Geneva, Glenda and Gloria, the Birthday Girl was now 6, and dressed in her heavenly looking bright white dress and matching shoes, came out, standing on the big porch, while Glenda was smiling at a pretty white birthday cake with just six candles in the center!
No longer thinking about the "Instant War" Esparto was involved in, we ate cake, laughed, and No, Mother would-no-allow Geno or Me to spank Gloria for 6 years!
After the cake eating, I told Gloria, lets go explore the big hole, which was called simply a "basement", we entered the semi-dark basement, with its dirt all around, slowly we noticed broken boxes, torn newspapers, then the Major-Find of all times, we saw a box of empty wine bottles, that had indentions on the bottom of each bottle. Pulling out the first bottle, we then noticed a 4 x 6 inch metal cover over a brick wall, and I was sure it was an-additional-hidden-treasure spot. With Gloria on my side, I tapped the tiny metal cover, then turned the hook, with my hand, up & down, many times, my hands now covered with dirt, but I continued, then it happened - the tiny cover opened up, both of our eyes opened up, as the ashes from the chimney came spurtting out, and all over Gloria's pretty white birthday dress, and I think she had white gloves on as well, after hollarring out loud, we both ran out of that forbidden hole, into the backyard fresh air, and poor Gloria was crying, just because I wanted to explore that new found basement in our new house.
Mother never stopped reminding me to "mind-my-own-business" and not to bother other people with ideas, I donot recall that I ever apologized to my sweet sister Gloria for thinking entering that dumd dirty basement would have been any fun!
Now, in my 77th year, When Gloria reads this, Please Accept my TARDY apologies, and Please " Gloria, I am very sorry to lead you astray that day" Please Forgive Me!
