That Darn Cat!

We moved to Rockton in July of 1973. That fall I became very ill and, since we had not yet found a doctor locally, had to return to Rock Island to see my doctor there. I had a serious sinus condition that was affecting my lungs. My doctor checked me over briefly in his office, then sent me directly to the hospital. A specialist was called in to determine the problem and the solution. The treatment turned out to be extensive sinus surgery. Who do you call when you need someone to step in and care for the children at a time like that? Mom, of course.

My parents had moved to Bowie, Texas around the same time we took up residence in Rockton. But Mom was more than willing to make the long trip back to Illinois to take care of her baby's babies for as long as needed.

My only regret in telling this story is the fact that I did not personally witness the scene I am about to describe to you. I do, however, have a very vivid picture in my mind of what must have happened that Sunday morning in the parsonage chapel.

Boys seem to always need, or at least want, a pet of some kind. We had our share of them, although most of ours didn't last too long. At that time our parsonage pet was a kitten. Randy seemed the one who really liked the kitten and took the responsibility of looking after it.

One Sunday, while I was still hospitalized, Mom had all four boys lined up in a pew with her. They were sitting about half way down the aisle from the back of the sanctuary. Mom was sitting mid-pew with Kenny and Robby to her right and Kevin and Randy to her left. My husband had just begun preaching when the kitten, sitting just outside the church door, began crying mournfully. It was becoming quite a distraction, so my mother decided to do something about it. She sent Randy outside to get the cat and put it in the house where its crying could not be heard by the entire congregation. Then he was to come immediately back into the church for the remainder of the service.

Randy was more than happy to oblige! Chasing the cat sounded like a great deal more fun than sitting in church on a beautiful fall Sunday morning. He went, but he didn't come back. Mom waited. Randy still didn't come back. Finally, as much as she hated making any more of a disturbance, she decided she had better go find Randy.

Now, Kevin was between Mom and the center aisle she was headed toward. Kevin was only six years old and had very short legs. When he was sitting back in the pew, his knees bent at the edge of the seat, but his feet would not come anywhere near touching the floor. So, there he sat kicking one leg up and then the other. As Mom stepped in front of Kevin on her way to the aisle, Kevin's leg came up right between her own legs. As she tried her best to step over that leg, the other one came up and caught her between her legs, sending her into a spin. She spun right into the middle of the aisle, teetered this way and that way in an attempt to regain her balance. It was to no avail. Poor Mother found herself sitting flat on the floor, in the center of the aisle, feet extended outward, looking directly into the forlorn face of her pastor son-in-law! She picked herself up, straightened herself out, and headed for the door. At this point she was overjoyed to have Randy as an excuse to leave!

Once in the house, Randy found and the cat quieted down, she thought she was safe from the embarrassment of facing the people who had witnessed her sitting spread eagle in the center aisle. She waited until it seemed the sound of voices in the church had subsided, then she opened the kitchen door. There before her stood the entire congregation wanting to make sure she was okay. She assured them there were no bumps or bruises on her body, but her dignity was badly damaged!