From time to time I make reference to my family members. As a refresher course, I was either blessed or cursed with two older sisters. As the saying goes, ” opposites attract”. Nothing could have been more true than my siblings. You guessed it, being the youngest of the three I was subjected to psychological manipulation well before the fantastic movie The Manchurian Candidate.
My oldest sister was the intellect of the three. Her approach to me was smoother than milk gravy. After she had me hook, line, and sinker, here came the hammer. Was I gullible, yes? Did I do her chores, yes? Was I her patsy when there was a sister-sister issue, yes? Could she talk me out of the shirt on my back, yes? And all the time making me feel a though I was the one in charge. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
Now for the middle sister. If you ever saw the movie “To Kill A Mocking Bird,” my sister’s personality wise was a dead ringer for the young actress that played Scout. If I ever crossed her during the day at night I would sleep with one eye open waiting for her retribution. Her mind game was directly proportionate to Dr. Hannibal Lecter in ” Silence Of The Lambs”. However, I must say her physical and mental attributes developed her into being an All-State Basketball player her Senior year. I still question her DNA and believe the milk man left her on the front porch.
My Achilles tendon with both of them was the infamous ” double dare”. The double dares for Superman, Tarzan, Batman, and back flips on the bed are real easy to remember. All I need to do is feel the scar tissue on my head. At that age I had not heard of Sir Isaac Newton’s Theory of Relativity resulting in stiches.
When my mom would inquire, ” How did this happen”? Their reply, ” You know how he is”? Cursed with two older sisters, no. Blessed with two older sisters, yes.
Warning to the wise, if you have siblings, just be aware of the ” double dares”.
Be safe.
Joe's Bakers Dozen 