When I was about 6 or 7 years old we lived in a 3 bedroom trailer behind Lake Gas Company in Belle Glade. Daddy was working at Lake Gas that day. I'm not sure where Mom was on this particular afternoon, but Donna and I were alone in the trailer and we decided we were going to "help" Mom by mopping the floor for her. It was going to be a wonderful surprise when she got home and found what a great job we'd done without even being asked!
We filled a great big bucket with water and probably way more soap than was necessary, then we dunked that great big industrial strength mop into the bucket and swished it around a bit to get it good and wet. When we tried to lift that heavy sucker out of the bucket it was more than our puny little arms could handle and (oops!) we knocked the entire bucket over on it's side!
Soapy water went everywhere! All over the kitchen and onto the carpet in the living room! It was a disaster!! We frantically tried drying the floor with towels, creating an even bigger mess for Mom to deal with when she got home. Needless to say, we panicked!
We decided our best option would be to hide. But where? We'd be easily found inside. There was no place to hide in there! So, out the door we went, around back and up the ladder that Daddy had left leaning against the side of the trailer. The roof! Excellent hiding place plus it gave us a perfect view so we'd know when Mom got home.
About that time, Granny, who lived up front, arrived to escort us to Bible Study. We were very, very quiet. Not a peep even when she called for us! Granny, after viewing the carnage inside and not seeing us anywhere, immediately called Daddy for assistance.
He arrived much too quickly! When he found us on the roof? Well, it was ugly. This was the only time my father ever paddled my butt! I daresay, I deserved it, but we were only trying to help!
I blame this entire experience for my dislike of housekeeping! It warped me for life!
Cathy
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