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Show Not a Creature Was Stirring Except for a Mouse by Connie Diehl Forum staff writer - When I was a little girl i n kindergarten, my dads cousin, Bud, came to stay with our family every weekend. He worked during the week at Dugway, staying alone in a small apartment in the evenings. He was home always welcome in our tiny on Saturdays and Sundays. Bud was tall, dark, single and the same as age my dad. My parents thought it was odd that he hadn't married since his release from the Korean War three years before. Bud spent the majority of his weekend evenings at my fathers beer joint, The Bank Club, in the downtown section of our small town. My sisters and I would stand with our chins resting on the bathroom sink while he shaved, greased back his hair, and plastered Aqua Velva on his face and neck, preparing for his night out. He treated us like important people, lingering on our every word. His booming laughter filledour home and we lovedhim for making our weekends special with his attention. Santa Claus was a mysterious wonder. My mom began shopping every year in July to make certain each of her six children had plenty of presents to open on Christmas morning. The closet in our hall had a small lock on it. We all knew that Santa hid his magical surprises of the season there. We never tried to look in the holiday closet, knowing that if we discovered a present before Dec 25, my mom would give it away to another child outside our family because themagicis gone, andifyou dont believe, you dont receive. (She reminded us ofthis . every year.) The children in our family spent the time between Thanksgi vingand Christmas imagining the dreams hidden behind the closets doors. The trouble began two weeks before Christmas. I heard my mom talking in the kitchen to Bud and my dad one night when we were all supposed to be sleeping. Tm missing almost all of the Christmas candy and nuts. I cant understand whats happened to any of it. The kids have never opened the closet before, and I am beginning to wonder ifmaybe the babysitter has taken it home with her, she said. Give the girl a break, Jean. Theres probably a logical explanation why its , mention the curious sound of the night the rest of the way, picking it up by its tail before to my little sisters. for my parents inspection. missing, dad said. Theres more missing than just that. I We dont want to scare them without My mother was very angry. When you bought the girls some gloves and hats, and having to, Bud said. saidyoud take care ofit, I thought youd set I promised not to tell and enjoyed they are also missing, mom said. some traps or something. I never thought I frankly cant imagine her stealing knowing that even though I was only 5, I youd shoot the thing right here in the girls from you, Jean. Shes so timid. Bud was shared a secret with the adults in the family. bedroom. Look at them. Theyre terrified! Bud was talking to my mother when I trying to reassure my mother that Im sorry, Jean. I was quite certain it everything would still be perfect for made my last trip to the kitchen before wasnt a mouse, but a rat when we talked Christmas. going to bed. I woke up several hours later about it this I didnt want to About a week later, I awoke during the to a sound in our bedroom. The house was alarm you. Themorning. to only way get rid of these middle of the night to an unusual noise quiet, everyone was asleep, except for Bud. things once theyre in your walls is to shoot coming from the wall next to my bed. The The lamp on the floor was turned on, them. sound was inside the wall. It would be producing subtle, moving shadows on the They can cause all kinds of if hours before the sun came up, so I got out of corner walls. Bud was sitting up in his bed, are allowed to live in there problems they Bud long. very bed and went to the other side of our bedroom waiting. He had a shotgun cradled in his was as calm as other any Sunday morning. where Bud was asleep on the roll away bed. right elbow. Lifting it to his cheek, he Ill fix the wall with some plaster next It was difficult waking him up due to the looked down the barrel toward the corner weekend. In the meantime, amount of beer he had enjoyed a few hours wall. At his left side was a half-fu-ll bottle weve solved a problem, and we need to before, but when he did wake up, he wasnt of Jim Beam Whiskey. I didnt move to let clean out the insides of this wall. Come and him know I was awake and watching. angry with me for disturbing him. look, he said to my parents. Whats the matter, did you have a The boogey-ma- n must be in that wall Bud was inspecting inside the wall. for Bud to have such a big gun, I thought. Reaching between the nightmare, Connie? he asked. with Theres a scary noise coming from the At 5 years old, I was terrified, lying in his arms he began out tom bags pulling wall next to my bed, I said. my bed watching Bud alternately taking a filled with Christmas candy and nuts. Just go back to bed and Ill sit up and drink of whiskey with his left hand and The rat used the gloves and hats for listen for awhile to make sure everythings checking his aim with his right. his nest, he said pulling them out to show Sometime during the night I fell asleep okay. he whispered. my mother. Her jaw fell when she saw the Thanks Bud, I feel much better now, again, worrying about what was going to condition they were in. Get me a broom for I whispered back, runni ng to my bed feeling happen to Bud if the boogey-ma- n got out of the droppings, he said. the cold of the linoleum floor on my bare the wall before he could shoot him. The next weekend Bud fixed the wall feet. BLAM! Our Sunday morning began as he had promised. A pretty young woman When I was back in my bottom bunk, I with a shotgun blast awakening our entire moved into our little town a few months pulled the blankets up over my head, trying family. My parents came running in from after Christmas and she and Bud got not to awaken my little sister, slipping as their bedroom. married in our tiny living room the next far down into the sheets as I could, to What in the hell are you doing, Bud? summer. safety. my dad yelled. Theres a in the girls I got him, Jay! There will be no more Even now, I will not allow any of my bedroom inside the wall, I heard Bud spell missing Christmas candy or mysterious children to have a gerbil or hamster for a a word I didnt know while talking to my nighttime noises, Bud said with a huge pet in our house, and every Christmas parents the next morning as I rubbed the smile on his face. A dead h pack rat when our family reminisces together, we sleepy bugs from my eyes. I wondered was lying halfway out of the bedroom wall. laugh as we remember Bud and The what it all meant. Bud proudly walked over and pulled it out Christmas Thief. What are we going to do, set traps? my mom asked. Ill take care of it tonight, I promise, Bud told my parents. We had similar problems when I was living on the farm. I know what to do. A service of the Prevention Program Bud didnt go to the beer joint that night. He rearranged our bedroom, moving affect different people in different Everyone wants to have a good time ways. the beds and dressers away from the source at a party. After all, thats what parties Here are some factors that determine the of the sound the night are for - celebrating, relaxing and way alcohol will affect you. before. He rolled his bed over closer to the the of friends. enjoying HOW FAST YOU DRINK. If you company good wall, placing our small crystal lamp on the As a make to want host, sure you floor beside it. I had been told not to sip a drink and do not have more than 1 your guests have a good time. Thats per hour, the alcohol will not have a your responsibility and, as a good host, chance to build up in the bloodstream. have other you WHAT TYPE OF BEVERAGE YOU responsibilities. When you serve alcoholic beverages DRINK. Beer is absorbed at the slowest at your party, you take on a rate. Wine and spirits are more rapidly for those whom you serve. responsibility absorbed. You are responsible for seeing that the HOW MUCH YOU WEIGH. The alcoholic beverages you serve are dinners throughout the holidays. K mart same amount of alcohol has a greater and The American Veterans organization consumed responsibly by your guests. effect on a slighter person than it does will be throwing Christmas A well. WORD ABOUT FOOD: parties as on a heavier person. Cellular One will set up a telephone Most importantly, high protein .WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE network in the shelter for children to place foods such as meat, cheeses and nuts EATEN: YOUR MOOD, ATTITUDE calls to Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. The calls slow the of alcohol help rate AND absorption DRINKING EXPERIENCE. If you will be answered by senior citizens and the into the blood. Make sure such foods childrens wishes will be given to Price are tired or upset, alcohol will have a are readily available when you serve Development who will have the presents stronger impact than usual. Remember, for the children on Christmas Day. alcohol. Its a good idea to offer cheese social environment plays a role in Hougland said on Christmas Eve or nut snacks when refilling. maintaining responsible behavior when children will try to be put to bed around 9 ABOUT REFILLING GLASSES: drinking. There must be more to your p.m. Throughout the rest of the evening a host does not Being mean good the Junior League of the shelter will party than just drinking. that full. is It means seeing every glass distribute the donated toys among the ALTERNATIVE DRINKS. Make that is families. Each family should get at least and seeing every guest safely sure you have beverages one or two garbage bags full of wrapped responsibly enjoying the party. available, keeping them prominently' Serve drinks at regular intervals, toys and gifts. displayed. Juices served with On Christmas morning the families a drink an hour, rather than perhaps carbonated waters and soft will have the option of opening gifts in their Know when constantly refilling glasses. drinks are popular party beverages. private rooms or in one of the shelters it is time to stop serving. Leam to read For more information there will be a family rooms. your guests and stop serving before they safe holiday parties booth Dec. 12-1- 6 Gifts and donations will be accepted reach their limits. through Christmas.Those wishing to donate in Shaw. Come and get to the shelter can contact Hougland at The same amount of alcohol can recipes. two-by-fou- -E 14-inc- Heres- To Your Health . Christmas Wishes Granted at Salt Lake Community Shelter by Shane A. Gonzales Forum editor The Travelers Aid Society Salt Lake Community Shelter and Resource Center, with some help from the local business and individual community, is giving 27 less fortunate families at the shelter a Christmas they may not otherwise have. Patrick Hougland, office manager of the family shelter, said contributions to the shelter include dinners, entertainment, clothes and gifts. Contributions have come from the Salt Lake Tribune throughout the years and some special funding comes for the holiday effort, said Hougland. The Tribune is contributing gifts, clothes and Christmas dinners to all three of the shelter divisions. The amount of support thi s communi ty will give for the holidays is overwhelming, said Hougland. We the shelter would like to see this support all year long. Numerous LDS youth groups and the Greek Orthodox Church are providing rs . . non-alcoh- ol . low-calor- ie non-alcohol- 359-41- 42. ic -- |
