Sister Ra-Ra

Growing up I was never sure quite how I felt about having so many brothers and sisters.  I mean being the oldest of seven kids pretty much meant that I was working full time by the age of 6.  I did quite a lot of cooking, cleaning, diapering, and babysitting.  I used to be envious of the other kids in the neighborhood who never seemed to have much going on in the responsibility department. 

At our house you learned to eat fast and if you were lucky you might be the one who got the extra spoonful of macaroni or sloppy joes that was left at the bottom of the pot in the center of the table.  I really don't think I am exaggerating when I say that 99% of the meals we ate were made in a big pot and served with a giant spoon.  I am sure this was due to necessity.  Feeding 7 kids on one teacher's salary could not have been easy!! 

I'm not claiming to have gone hungry...but it seems like we all were always on the hunt for a tasty snack of some sort.  We did not get soda pop and store bought treats EVER.  Little Debbies....NO.   Cheetos....NO.  Candy bars...NO.   But one time a box of twinkies made it's way into the house.  I have no idea how it happened or what the special occasion was...but there they were in the bread drawer with the sliding lid. 

What happened next is subject to speculation and hushed whispers of she did it....no SHE did it.  I had to have been around 9 years old and my sister Lara....who my brother Sean called Ra-Ra was 8.  My mom had been judiciously doleing out the twinkies with whatever system of fairness she had devised.  We were all like Pavlov's dog.  Dangle a sugary treat in front of our nose and we would have volunteered for an eternity of extra chores.  It got down to one twinkie being left in the drawer.  Who was going to get that darned twinkie??   We'll never know who would have earned it because someone STOLE it !! 

It happened in the middle of the night and no one would confess.  In my house thievery and lies were not acceptable.  I don't know how it all went down exactly...but it was narrowed down to Lara and myself.  Neither one of us was budging on our heartfelt and passionate pleas of innocence.  I think my parents were leaning towards Lara as the culprit all the while she kept insisting it was me.  Well all I can say over 30 years later is.....I slept in the same room with her and that night I smelled twinkie breath and it wasn't mine!

I stumbled across this picture of the two of us in our matching nightgowns today and it made me remember this story and even if she did steal the twinkie and try to blame me....I still love her...she's my little sister!

Just look at her....can't you see the mischievious look on her face.  I on the other hand look completely innocent. 

Comments

[Sandra's funny not so pale friend a.k.a. Avonne]

Awesome story Megan. And you're right, your sister does have a little hint of that "don't leave the Twinkie unguarded or it's mine" look in her eye. My little sister had that some look when we were younger, must be a chromosome!

[Angela]

um, yah. talk to Sandra about that chromosome.

[sandra]

yah... i know the look... it's the "i am looking up to you, big sister and by the way, i might just bite you while i'm at it." that's the ninja squirrel chromosome talkin' to you, sister.

[Megan Morrison]

Yea...a chromosome...the I'm the innocent, sweet baby sister who can't stand for big sis to tell me what to do anymore so I'll get her when she least expects it.

Most likely she savored every delicious bite of that twinkie all the while planning her dastardly frame job. At least she never bit me.(hi sandra)

Although one time she made me so mad that I threw a fork at her and it made poke marks in her arm and I got in huge trouble. Quiet plotting was never my strong suit....throwing forks...right up my alley.

[sandra]

hmmm. i don't think there was any quiet plotting going on behind my grin. there wasn't a quiet thing about me... i'm sure angela would be more than happy to divulge numerous tales. she remembers EVERYTHING. i on the other hand have blissfully repressed plenty... tick, tick, tick - chomp!

[megan morrison]

Hi my name is Sandra and I might bite you when you aren't looking. I just had to say that.

[Sandra's funny not so pale friend a.k.a. Avonne]

it IS the ninja squirrel chromosome. We have just made a scientific discovery! Someone get the center for genetic research on the phone.

And uhm Megan, I can attest to the fact that Sandra will bite you when you ARE looking, and you will be powerless to stop it. She's pure ninja through and through.

[evie]

dear megan, i would like to say, this is a wonderful day. i send you letters in case we have other stuff to do. i got a barbie fishing pole with a fish for my birthday. i got a toy bratz doll that is a little bit my size. i got a sports barbie diary. the picture of you and your little sister was super cute. when we get twinkies i think i do that. good bye, evie

[lisa]

evie is right, super cute! we had a similar situation at our house when i was about 9, nicki 6 and sarah 3. someone... spilled my dad's campho phynique(i think i spelled that completely wrong). it must have the same worth as liquid gold but maybe it was more the principle, yet noone would confess. so all 3 lilttle girls were lined up in age to stand in front of the hutch, ordered not to move or talk until someone broke and admitted to the waste of precious camphor but more importantly lying. i'm sure there was a little whispering, threats muttered and dirty looks given by me, again the innocent oldest. it felt like hours before poor baby sarah started to cry admitting to everything and anything. i don't remember what happened, the tears and fear are enough to break your heart. sarah still denied doing it but took the rap for her sisters. years later the tight-lipped, poker-face middle sister nicki solemnly fessed up. years & years after any chance of punishment. we laught about it now but i think nick still feels bad. so there you go kids. lying always, always makes things so much worse. just own up and close your eyes tight, it will be over soon. i'm sorry megan, i always seem to make your blog into my own personal blog instead of just leaving a short, sweet comment. is it a cry for attention or just a very annoying habit,hmm. i'll have to do some self-analyzing.

[sandra]

avonne is right... i will bite whether you are looking or not. evie, sweetheart... this is a perfect example of how NOT to behave.

[megan morrison]

Avonne...I guess I'm very lucky Sandra didn't bite me the other day at lunch. Whew...close call!

Evie...I am so happy that you got all of that fun stuff for your birthday. You are such a fabulously cute girl and I love it when I get to see you. I will see you very soon....maybe with a box of twinkies just for you.

Lisa...I love it when you all post stories of your own and no comment of yours is ever too long. Keep the stories coming! Maybe you would like to be a guest blogger?

[angela]

you are ALL lucky not to have been bitten by the Sandra ninja squirrell. and you are also lucky that she didnt chew the feet off of your barbie dolls. i guess im happy she didnt try to chew MY feet off. she had that angelic little face, and shed LAUGH!!!and just when you thought it was safe...CHOMP!!! hah! fooled you. i will say, in her defense, however, that we would both have been guilty of gnoshing all the twinkies. (even if mom did hide them in the freezer.)

[megan morrison]

Sandra...why did you eat the feet of dear sister Angela's dolls?? Inquiring minds want to know.

[sandra]

*sigh* alas, i have absolutely no idea what compelled me to chew the feet off of not only angela's, but my own barbie dolls. lisa honey... maybe instead of analyzing yourself, you could work on me.

[Sandra's funny not so pale friend a.k.a. Avonne]

It's not your fault sweet Sandra...you're just a born biter. There's nothin you can do about it, hug and bite--it's who you are! And it's why we stay arms length away from you! :-D