*
Walking the Fence Line
Bonnie Bird

The Lunch Ladies

Posted Wednesday, January 9, 2013, at 6:29 PM
Comments
View 5 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • *

    My Mom was a school lunch cook at West Elementary when it first opened. She was also Vice President of the PTA. Mr. Stevens, my sixth grade teacher, was President of the PTA. They were really very good friends besides.

    Mom's birthday was a school day that year. The sixth graders were last in line and I was the last sixth grader that day. Mr. Stevens was just behind me as were the office staff and a few teachers from the Junior High. Mr. Stevens said something to the effect of "Say Vivian, I hear it's your Birthday" and jokingly asked how old she was.

    Before Mom could answer, I tugged on his arm and said :"Yeah, she the same age as Jack Benny."

    It took several minutes to get the line going again as the other lunch ladies and the staff and teachers all headed for the hallway or the pantry to keep from busting out in laughter.

    With just me, Mom and Mr. Stevens left, all Mom said was "I'll deal with YOU later."

    And she wasn't talking to the teacher!

    My Dad had taken off from work early that day to fix dinner for Mom and had her calmed down by the time school let out. He did however explain that Jack Benny was probably in his late sixties and the "39" was a joke, and that you should NEVER ask or tell a woman's age.

    Thanks for the memory, Bonnie.

    -- Posted by wh67 on Wed, Jan 9, 2013, at 7:05 PM
  • thank you for sharing the story. Jack Benny was a character wasn't he? David's mother never told her children how old she was either.

    Her response was always, "I am old enough to be your mother".

    -- Posted by KH Gal on Wed, Jan 9, 2013, at 7:21 PM
  • In that deadpan voice.

    -- Posted by KH Gal on Wed, Jan 9, 2013, at 8:18 PM
  • *

    With his hand under his chin and Rochester at his side.

    Those were some good times...

    -- Posted by wh67 on Wed, Jan 9, 2013, at 8:56 PM
  • ..or the fact that Jack Benny had been dead for over ten years and was still sitting there talking to Johnny smoking a cigar. simply UNBELEIVABLE. Thanks for memory ...........and the visual.

    -- Posted by Pale Ale on Thu, Jan 10, 2013, at 1:03 PM
Respond to this blog

Posting a comment requires free registration: