Holiday-appropriate flash-fiction by my mother
Now that you've seen, it's time to jump ahead a few decades and read a bit.
The following was originally published in the September 1978 issue of College SHOWCASE Magazine, a division of University Programs Corporation. I've tried to keep all the editing decisions made back then intact.
Lithuanian eagle
Look at all those crows, Daddy!
Those aren't crows, Honey, those are very dignified birds.
Crows, Daddy?
Not Crows, Honey - though some people do call them that. I've always known them as Lithuanian eagles.
Eagles, Daddy?
Yes, Lithuanian eagles. Why, I remember back when your uncle and I were in the Boy Scouts...
You were in the Boy Scouts, Daddy?
Yes, your uncle and me, we were in the Boy Scouts. The Lithuanian Boy Scouts.
I've never heard of the Lithuanian Boy Scouts.
Er - what? Never hear...? Well, I guess you wouldn't have. You're young and I guess they're not around anymore, God knows why. Anyway, when I was a boy that was the big thing. Everyone was in the Boy Scouts. There were Polish Boy Scouts, the Irish Boy Scouts.... Why, everyone had his own group of Boy Scouts. Your uncle and me, we were in the Lithuanian Boy Scouts.
What did you do?
Do? Oh yeah, I guess we did the same sorts of things Boy Scouts do now. The best part was the parades - marching down the streets with our banner and our mascot.
Mascot?
Why, yes. We captured this big Lithuanian eagle and had it in this big cage and marched down Main Street with it.
You didn't!
You better believe we did! And it was darned funny, too, 'cause most of the people just thought we had a regular old black crow. But we knew better. Very dignified animals, those Lithuanian eagles. You should show them some respect when you see them and salute them, like this. I always do.
Daddy, are you telling the truth?
What? Why, you can ask your uncle. He'll tell you.
Mom! Is he telling the truth?
Thanks for reprinting permission, Marilyn Austin!
I've been working on an entry about the joys of embarrassing myself, especially on the internet, so maybe there'll be two April 1st posts.
The following was originally published in the September 1978 issue of College SHOWCASE Magazine, a division of University Programs Corporation. I've tried to keep all the editing decisions made back then intact.
Lithuanian eagle
Look at all those crows, Daddy!
Those aren't crows, Honey, those are very dignified birds.
Crows, Daddy?
Not Crows, Honey - though some people do call them that. I've always known them as Lithuanian eagles.
Eagles, Daddy?
Yes, Lithuanian eagles. Why, I remember back when your uncle and I were in the Boy Scouts...
You were in the Boy Scouts, Daddy?
Yes, your uncle and me, we were in the Boy Scouts. The Lithuanian Boy Scouts.
I've never heard of the Lithuanian Boy Scouts.
Er - what? Never hear...? Well, I guess you wouldn't have. You're young and I guess they're not around anymore, God knows why. Anyway, when I was a boy that was the big thing. Everyone was in the Boy Scouts. There were Polish Boy Scouts, the Irish Boy Scouts.... Why, everyone had his own group of Boy Scouts. Your uncle and me, we were in the Lithuanian Boy Scouts.
What did you do?
Do? Oh yeah, I guess we did the same sorts of things Boy Scouts do now. The best part was the parades - marching down the streets with our banner and our mascot.
Mascot?
Why, yes. We captured this big Lithuanian eagle and had it in this big cage and marched down Main Street with it.
You didn't!
You better believe we did! And it was darned funny, too, 'cause most of the people just thought we had a regular old black crow. But we knew better. Very dignified animals, those Lithuanian eagles. You should show them some respect when you see them and salute them, like this. I always do.
Daddy, are you telling the truth?
What? Why, you can ask your uncle. He'll tell you.
Mom! Is he telling the truth?
Thanks for reprinting permission, Marilyn Austin!
I've been working on an entry about the joys of embarrassing myself, especially on the internet, so maybe there'll be two April 1st posts.