These are actual short stories found in Shirley's archives.  They are transcribed just as she wrote them with nothing added and no grammar or punctuation changes.  These were not edited in any way because we decided that Shirley's actual thoughts and manner of writing would provide greater impact.

Before we begin, a little background is needed.  The dates that you see here are the actual dates found on Shirley's notes. 

Shirley did baby-sitting while I worked 2 jobs so I didn't get to experience all the things that Shirley experienced.  Young couples, even those married for a few years, have "economic challenges".  We were still young and had our own 4 children - Karen, Jimmy, David and Matthew.  Two of the boys, David and Matthew, are twins and they would have been just over 2 years old at the time this was written - so use your imagination.  If Shirley were here, she would tell you that they were quite an experience!

Snowy Winter Days

1/18 – 1/24/84

It’s snowing.  No school today.  The den couch is converted to a fort.  Brian and Jimmy are complaining that the twins keep knocking their walls down.  Just Indians attacking!  Those cushions are supposed to be on the couch anyway.  Get them back on!  Hopeless!

The house is loud with laughing, teasing, fussing and crying of “We don’t have anything to do.  Can we go outside?”  Mom recalls all the things Santa just brought and may reclaim since they are never played with.  They take off.  Matt to fix the TV with his hammer and David to saw the legs off the chairs – fortunately the saw is plastic.  And Brian and Jimmy build another fort.  At least they didn’t use the cushions this time.  Just the green chairs, a pile of toys and the curtains yanked over top the whole mess!  Well, they found something to do!

After the 50^th cry of “Can we go out” and a let up in the snow falling, Mom gives in.  Twenty minutes putting on boots, hats, gloves, scarves, sweaters and coats and everyone is out.  Frosty starts to take shape.  For some reason the twins like the snow better in the side yard – out of Moms sight.  In between chasing them, Frosty gets finished.  Mom is getting numb of course no one else is but Mom gets the final say.  Everyone in.  Suddenly there are moans and groans about cold toes.  Drippy boots off at the doorway and all wet clothes to the tub.  Even underwear is soaked.  It looks like a hurricane hit but finally everyone is dressed in dry clothes sipping hot chocolate.  They are all cheery.  Matt politely pushes Karen’s cup closer to her, spilling hot chocolate all over her, the floor and the wallpaper.  So much for cheery!

It’s Monday and the 4^th snow day off from school.  At least there was a weekend – not that it was much different.  Julie is here and the twins fight over who gets to kiss her – Julie says neither.  The twins fight over everything.  David is mad because Matt closed the refrigerator door.  They take turns opening, closing, pushing and shoving.  Reasoning doesn’t help, neither do spankings, but that’s what they get.  They fight over who throws away dirty diapers, who drinks out of what glass, who sits where, just name it!  A half hour later they are kissing and loving each other.  Kids!

Karen volunteers to keep an eye on Julie.  But Karen soon strays off and Julie is busy scribbling on the door.  Matt and Dave scold her good.  Only they can do that!

Julie leaves at 12:30 and its lunchtime.  Jimmy fusses because Brian brought his lunch and Jimmy wants the same thing – mainly Doritos.  Jimmy: “I ain’t gonna eat that grilled cheese.”  Brian: “I’ll take it.”  Jimmy: “Only if you give me your Doritos.”  They trade and another crisis is settled.

Twins get locked in den while older kids go outside.  They aren’t happy about it.  The pantry door is open and in reach.  They “cook” up a scheme to get even.  Here is the recipe:

Strawberry Jell-O
Instant Onion Soup Mix
Worcester sauce

Pour on den steps and mix with hands. 

Mom isn’t happy – to put it mildly!

Tuesday – still no school.  Brian comes at 6:40 and everyone else gets up an hour apart – meaning five separate breakfasts.  Matt is full of surprises this morning.  One pajama foot is full of little brown nuggets and upon careful inspection of the other foot, a little grey mouse peers out.  It’s a plastic one – but nonetheless – a mouse!

David is not to be outdone.  He wanders into Mom’s bedroom, closes the door and unwinds all the thread in the sewing box.  When Mom discovers him, he is completely tangled in thread.  It’s tempting to leave him that way.  Maybe he couldn’t get into any more trouble!

Matt’s turn.  He climbs up to the cabinet to get the shampoo.  Last time they poured it all over the bathroom floor.  This time he pours it all over his bedroom carpet.  Someday – twenty years from now – when they tell me how incorrigible their kids are, I’m just going to laugh!

Just listen to all that peace and quiet.  Something is wrong.  Time to check on the twins.  They are all smiles and so proud of themselves.  They have just put pampers on every stuffed animal and baby doll in the house – and did a pretty good job too.  Oh well, what’s a few pampers – just don’t do it again.

As the day wears on and the older ones get bored (the twins never get bored), Karen suggests popping popcorn.  “And I don’t want to see any on the floor,” Mom warns.  What a waste of words.

Soon they are off and playing Castle Greyskull.  Everyone is cooperating.  Why can’t they always play this well together?  Suddenly David comes running down the hall with hands up for Mom to catch him.  After a big hug and kiss he takes off again as suddenly as he came.  How did he know that was just what Mom needed?  And the day goes on.