Dear Readers,
Marnie here. It is that time of year again... the time to spin more tales! Here is one about a mother who loves to surprise her daughter..... Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Stories of my mother
My mother is quite the woman. I love her to bits. But let me tell you, there is a mischievous streak in her. She always loves to surprise me. There have been many occasions where she has had the opportunity to do so and had successfully accomplished her mission of surprising me. Here are some of the occasions that my mother pulled a fast one on me, (there are to many occasions to place in one piece, so there will be a part two... probably...).:
The Harry Potter books is one of my favorite series. I fell in love with it as a child and I always looked forward to when the next one would come out. My mother took it upon herself to make books five, six and seven a surprise for me:
1) Book 5 was a back to school surprise. When I was younger we would always go to the country, (now before you say anything I am in no way rich...), for the summer so my mother and father would often go supply shopping nearby when we were there. They went with my grandfather, (who was there for the weekend), who they figured would enjoy an evening out shopping.... he loved to buy trinkets for us, and in addition would not have the patience to wait around all evening for them to come back. It helps that I was old enough to babysit at the time.
When they came back they handed me my bag of supplies. From the corner of my eye I saw both my father and grandfather practically buzzing with excitement, but I figured that my grandfather had gotten me a small present, so I thought nothing of it, figuring that I'll be happy and say thanks when I see it. Especially since they said something to confirm my suspicions- "Make sure to take one item out at a time, and don't look inside.
So here I am going through my bag and I slowly pick out supplies. I take out notebooks, pencils and other school knick-knacks that I honestly do not remember. Then I felt it- someone that felt like a book and it was very heavy. I was really confused. I picked it up and there it was- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I was beyond excited! My mother told me that it was sold out before!
She then told me what happened. Apparently when they went supply shopping, (since it was in a mall), she walked by the bookstore- on the small chance that there might be copies... and what do you know- there was! Apparently the bookstore in question just restocked! Of course because she is so freaking awesome, she decided right then and there to buy one!
So that was how I got book 5... Now onto how I got book 6...
2)Book 6 was a summer surprise. Now I know what those of you who grew up when the books were published might say... so I will stop you right there. I know that each book came out in the summer- but the context of the surprises vary since my mother liked to switch it up. Anyway, back on to the surprise at hand. This one might be a little vague, since there are parts I am having trouble remembering. The whole thing started when we were visiting my brother in camp. At the time my father was working in the city while those who were not in sleepaway camp, i.e. the scaredy-pants-who-was-scared-to-be-away-from-home: me, we went to the country to enjoy some fresh air in a day-camp. Anyway... sorry for slipping into so many tangents... for some reason the week of visiting day I had decided to go back with my father to the city. The plan was that we would meet up with my mother at camp.
Before we went in to see my brother, I couldn't help but notice that my baby brother was buzzing with excitement. When I asked what's up, he blurted out that my mother got me a new book. My mother quickly "corrected" him by say that I wanted to buy it but there were no more copies. I was tired so I left well enough alone. We met up and had a great visiting day. After we were done, I was getting ready to go back with my mother... (like I said- it's a bit fuzzy). She asked me to load something in the trunk, which I did not find unusual... I mean it is common knowledge that as long as your parents are asking you to do something within reason, (I mean as a parent you wouldn't ask your kid to do something too hard, right...?).
When I opened the trunk, I saw book number 6!! My mother apparently decided to stop by the book store on the way and saw that there were many copies, so being the awesome mother that she is, she decided to buy it for me. Yay for mommies that love to buy their daughter books!
3)Book 7... For those who grew up when the books came out, you know that as each book was released, it was very exciting to wait for it. The tension that built up... the wait until the pre-ordering was available... I remember waiting for the site to open so that we could place a pre-order for the book. Once it was open I was literally on my mother's head begging her to place the order. She seemingly placed the order and told me not to hold my breath. I mean so many people wanted the book that it might take a while to get it. I was disappointed but I understood. I mean, it was one of the most popular series at the time. It made sense that I would have to wait. On top of that, where we were for the summer did not have a post office. We had to go to a different area to get any letters or packages. Seeing as the book would have come on Sunday- hypothetically... so there would be a waiting game regardless.
Now let me set the scene... it's Sunday afternoon. I had finished my books and I was a mix between bored and watching TV. The doorbell rings. It's the daughter of my mother's friend. I thought she had come to drop something off or pick something up so I didn't think anything of it. I was in my room when I heard the summons. My mother was calling me to the living room. I entered the living area to see what was up. My mother summoned me to the door. I was wondering what this girl and my mother needed from me until I got to the door and saw it. The holy grail- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, (I know... I was a teen with nothing but books on the brain... I know I am weird- what do you want from me?), and gently took the book into my hands, grabbed it tight and proceeded to jump up and down like a little kid in a candy store. I think I was even shrieking like a little girl.
My mother's friend's daughter was laughing at my reaction with my mother explaining in short that I was a geek and something like this was going to make me this excited. She still got a good chuckle out of it, and honestly I don't blame her- I was pretty funny to look at.
So this is the end of part 1 of how my Mama surprised me. Let's see what part 2 brings...
