The Good Napkins

My mother taught me to read when I was four years old (her first mistake).

One day, I was in the bathroom and noticed one of the cabinet doors was ajar. I read the box in the cabinet. I then asked my mother why she was keeping ''napkins' in the bathroom. Didn't they belong in the kitchen? Not wanting to burden me with unnecessary facts, she told me that those were for 'special occasions' (her second mistake).

Now fast forward a few months.... It's Thanksgiving Day, and my folks are leaving to pick up my uncle and his wife. We were all given assignments while they were gone. Mine was to set the table. When they returned, my uncle came in first and immediately burst into laughter.

Next came his wife who gasped, then began giggling. Next came my father, who roared with laughter. Then came Mom, who almost died of embarrassment when she saw each place setting on the table with a 'special occasion' Kotex napkin at each plate, with the fork carefully arranged on top. I had even tucked the little tail in so they didn't hang off the edge.

My mother asked me why I used these and, of course, my response sent the other adults into further fits of laughter. "But, Mom, you said they were for special occasions!"

Life is too short for drama and petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly, and forgive quickly. . . and for Heaven's sake, use the good napkins whenever you can!

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I thought this story was cute. Having little girls, I can totally relate. I vividly recall the night my (then) three year old came downstairs while I was entertaining neighbors and asked me if she could have the "candy" she'd found in my bathroom drawer. Leave it up to a child to find something appetizing about a Playtex tampon.