Tale of the Undies

 

Bringing up three kids is no joke, we were three and I remember my mother always having this rushed look on her face almost looking at us her expression implying " What did I forget?"

Now that I am a Mother I understand that for the first child, we always thrive to be perfect about everything in terms of parenting and support. Once the second comes its multi tasking and nobody knows who brought up the third kid.

I am the third kid.

I needed help wiping my ass when my siblings were independent , I needed help combing my hair with a neat parting which my father would do diligently every morning before he took us to school. I almost looked like a female version of Don Corleone with back brushed hair. 

It was one of those rushed early morning routine. As usual I was the last one to wake up, with a quick shower and school uniform, I remember I could not locate myself a fresh pair of panties. 

So its went like this " Ma I cant find any panties" my mom would holler from behind the pots and pans and while closing steaming lunch boxes " Its on the cloths line".

" Ma I cant find any Panties" 

" Finish your breakfast " 

" Why is your hair not combed, come here let me fix it",

" Ma I cant find panties" 

" She is getting us late, if we don't start now we will be late for assembly".

" Ma I cant ...." 

Now I can visualize how my mother would have settled down with a steaming cup of Assam team. Perhaps after dowsing the third cup and while handing over the laundry to the Helper she must have realized.

" Oh shit, panties"!!!

A few scenario must have played out in her mind....

Front office at the school " Excuse me, my daughter forgot to wear her undergarments today, here can you get this send this to her?' or may be the daughter can made do with the day with wearing some undergarments, there was no PE class that day yay!

Don't ask me how I had spent the first few hours of school. The reason I remember it, I have PTSD from it. Post lunch I get a call from the front office, perhaps my parents had found an excuse of getting me out of the school for the day and I could have a half day vacation ....yeppie. 

Low and behold. The lady at the school front office say " Oh hunny you forgot your lunch box at home, did you eat anything yet?' 

Picnic! I was going to have a feast with the extra lunch, perhaps it was a kind of a consolation from my mother for not helping me find a pair of underwear. I had thanked the lady at the reception and walked back to class with a spring in my step, guessing perhaps it was French toast. My mouth watered at the thought, I could not wait, a small peek, a small peak.

I stopped in the middle of the long deserted corridor and clicked open the locks of the lunch box and removed the cover. Instead of a french toast sat a neatly folded my pink underwear!

Are you kidding me? Seriously? My stomach growled in anticipation of the french toast. I rubbed my face in frustration and walked to the ladies. Twenty minutes later wearing a fresh crisp underpant I sighed deeply and settled at my desk. 

My class teacher asked me " Two lunch boxes? Is it your birthday today or you are having a picnic?

I gave her my sweetest smile and said " My mother forgot she gave me lunch already " followed by a wry laugh. Good old times....