Things that go ‘crunch’ in the night
“Where has all my sugar gone? The packet is empty, I had almost a full packet yesterday”…. “Sugar duck?” ‘Duck’ was one of a few pet names my dad had for my mum. “Yes it has all gone!” said mum, staring in disbelief at the empty packet that had been put back in the cupboard.
Sandie, one of my sisters, sat fidgeting and looking rather sheepish – such a giveaway. “Sandra! have you been at my sugar?” The fidgeting got worse. “Sa-a-ndra, what have you done with it?” mum said. “Upstairs” Sandra (Sandie) said so quietly you could barely hear her. “Show me where you’ve put my sugar” mum said. It’s important to remember, as I said in my first 50’s post, that food, along with other things, was rationed. This meant that a full packet of sugar was like gold dust to a large family.
She led mum up to the bedroom that we four younger sisters shared, and she went over to her bed. Sandie, who may well have been crying by this time in order to gain sympathy, and make her punishment more lenient, slowly pulled the blankets back. There, in the middle of Sandie’s bed was my brothers toy truck, with the remains of mum’s sugar. The whole bed was sprinkled with sugar. She had somehow managed to creep into my brothers room and sneak his toy truck out. Then she had crept down in the middle of the night, toy truck in tow, filled the truck with sugar, crept back to bed and sat under her blankets and tucked in. When she had had her fill she went to sleep in a sticky mess, with a truck to keep her company. She had managed to do this without waking any of us girls up. After all, if she had, she may well have had to share it. Bill, who the truck belonged to, was none too happy that Sandie had taken his truck, and made all the appropriate noises.
Sandie
I don’t know if Sandie was punished but I bet mum and dad must have seen the humour in it, and had a chuckle later, in private.
Stumble it!
Subscribe by Email
Spider | 14 March 2008 at 17:41
Oh I remember it well! poor sticky Sandie lol.
I cannot remember either if Sandie did get punished, but as Mum and Dad’s worst punishments were lenient it would have been a strong talking to only I bet.
Keep those memories coming Babs. Tinaxx
weechuff | 15 March 2008 at 0:24
I remember this very well. How could I have possibly eaten all that sugar? But I did! I can’t have anything too sweet now, and never take sugar in my drinks:0)
Sandie
Swubird | 15 March 2008 at 2:37
Beetle:
What a cute story. And it was so well written. I felt like I was actually there. I could see and feel the environment – so real. Have you considered writing a book about your life?
Have a very nice day.
teddy and pencil | 15 March 2008 at 15:47
Bitter and sweet memory for Sandie?
It is a lovely story, though
We might have done the same if it were honey…
Teddy and Pencil
granny grimble | 15 March 2008 at 18:27
I seem to remember a large pair of red and blue check knickers with elastic round the legs, which served a very similar purpose as the truck! I felt that Sandie had the makings of an expert shoplifter, but unfortunately she let me down, and grew up to be a amongst other things, a sweet nurse and a paragon of virtue !
Liudmila | 15 March 2008 at 20:22
Family stories have something special. I said to my mother to write what she remembers about her parents and relatives, grandies ecc. When we go, nothing will remain from those stories that we remember.
Sindie | 19 March 2008 at 10:36
MO-THER! Sugar of all things? Mum never has anything sweet these days. Maybe the sugar overload put her off?!