Show 4 Superstition By Robert This afternoon I was halfway through dinner when I happened to notice a fork on my plate and another one in my hand Where did that extra fork come from I asked with surprise No wonder Im I'm losing weight growled Gramp Wiley my gracious host How can I expect to hold my own when my neighbor comes over here and eats with two forks Gladys who had been feeding Gramp pretty regular for 56 years was somewhat kinder Its a sign youre you're going to get married she said hopefully I understood her interest If I were married with any luck Id I'd start taking some of my meals at home Ive never heard that one I Isaid Isaid Isaid said with interest but I guess people arent aren't as superstitious as they used to be Do y you u know anymore anymore any anymore more old sayings My mother wouldn't have anything in the house with a bird birdon on it she said If anyone gave her a tablecloth or dish or anything with a bird on it shed she'd throw it away What foolishness snorted Gramp He noticed Id I'd forgotten about the serious business at hand and quickly speared the last piece of with his fork Once my mother had one of them ivy plants that crawls across the wall waiL Gladys continued Someone came in the house and said when the end of it had crawled all around the room and got back to where it had started someone would die Mr father heard that and made her throw it away Its It's just as well You cant can't clean behind them anyway Gramp looked up and siad slad Blue boats None of the old timers would have a blue boat They'd never leave a hatch cover upside down And they were pretty sensitive if a schooner didn't launch properly That was always abad abad a abad bad sign Of course I never believed in any of it My mother wouldn't let me open an umbrella in the house said Gladys And a bird on tb the tho windowsill was always bad luck because birds eat bugs said Gramp with disgust And if your windowsill is covered with with bugs youve you've got trouble I was always told not to rock an empty rocking chair or someone would die I said encouragingly What foolishness he replied I dont don't like to see an empty rocking chair rocking because its it's nerve Wears out the rockers That's the only reason it bothers me Gladys looked very serious and said He has to wear a certain hat when he goes hunting different Gramp exclaimed as he pounded a of fork on the table I grabbed the thelast thelast thelast last potato while his guard was down Ive never shot a deer while wearing any other hat That's different from superstition Can you think of any more I asked Well They used to say if you forget something at someone's someone s shouse house and have to go back to get it you have to sit on scissors That doesn't make much sense Gramp I said But some do he replied Joe said he never worked his truck on Sunday because when he did it always broke down on Monday I guess it was a good excuse to take a day off I thanked Gladys for an excellent dinner got up and put my coat on She gave me her usual reply It warn t much Just a little something to hold us You You know if you put something on wrong side out its it's bad luck to change it My niece went to school one day with her sweater on inside out It was the day they were going to have their pictures taken for the yearbook but she didn't dare change the sweater around Gramp said something that sounded like What foolishness as he steadied the empty rocker Id I'd accidentally hit on my way to the door When he saw me looking at him he said Well Im I'm not superstitious but why take unnecessary changes |