It’s been a tough October with Buttface and me having the scourge of the mumps.  Not contagious, finally, but still have a walnut on each side of the neck.  November is going to be a lot better.  The big turkey is waiting to be devoured, and I think Saturday is the grand Christmas parade.  All of downtown is lighted up with flashing Christmas bulbs and toys that actually move on their own in the front windows of the stores.  What a beautiful thing to behold! I wish it were like this every month.  Maybe we can talk to the mayor... whoever that is.

Caught up in the uforiah of the season, we made a decision to spread the joy during the ice-cold Christmas parade.  I finally got an open phone line and quickly called Buttface and told him to come to my house at sunrise.  He was on time for once.  We got on our bikes and headed to Mr. Bee’s doughnut restaurant.  Actually, it was kinda painful sitting on our bike seats because our mothers had taken our temperature every 30 minutes to check for 129 degree fever for the previous two weeks.  I hate rectal thermometers, but Mom said they were accurate.  I prefer the forehead touch myself.  

There we were in front of the greatest doughnut man on earth.  He was very proper and well-dressed with a cheerful bow tie.  We were there for the very first batch of doughnuts!  He greeted us as if we were loaded with money... strange for ten-year-old men.  “ How many do you want, guys?”  We told him a dozen, and he quickly delivered and stated that the doughnuts were free because we were the first people to show up.  We were overcome with such generosity!  Squeaky voices thanked him, and we got on our bikes each carrying 6 doughnuts weighing about 6 pounds.  Each bag steamed a fragmented trail of pure hot doughnuts.  The paper bags held the aroma that would turn the entire town upside down during the parade.  

On time, the parade started and we were greeted on the sidewalk by people we didn’t even know!  Strange what a great doughnut can do to people.  They were handed out with a smile and “Merry Christmas!”   We sure went beyond duty to folks who didn’t even know us.  

How were we supposed to know that the first batch of doughnuts was always a “test”  product?  Usually so full of grease that they were tossed out into the alley to poison various critters that showed up for a handout.

The next day, the party lines were jammed.  We had given every doughnut away, not even tasting any for ourselves... unheard of!  Sales of medicine for “upset” stomachs were booming!  We never said a word.  Just overjoyed with the absence of rectal thermometer treatment.  Good intentions are not for the weak.  Christmas awaits!!!!

Hug your kids and love your neighbor.
Nelly