Catfights

Jo Ann and I used to fight all the time. We're only a year apart and strange power struggles, or just plain old pettiness happen between siblings in those cases.

Jo Ann remembers that at three and four, we would fight so viciously, hair pulling, scratching, screaming and stuff, that one Christmas, in fear of not being listed in "Santa's Good Children List", she decided to postpone all out fights and instead of attacking each other, we should just jump up and down the beds to release our frustration.

...I'm sure Mom and Dad loved that.

I don't remember that discussion, but I do remember the jumping on the bed thing. I think we were under Santa's probation list there. I'm sure he took into consideration that jumping on the bed was a "good" thing especially when compared to tearing each other to pieces.

As we grew older, the fights became less physical and more verbal... and the reasons for them, completely eludes me now.

I remember one though. Jo Ann was a 'fraidy cat.

We used to play the piano daily... It was mandatory one hour practice everyday - "Mama's Law"

I liked the old one that was in the dining area. It sounded better and I liked being off in a corner alone. It allowed me to daydream without interruption. Jo Ann apparently liked it too, and I assumed, for the very same reason. So everyday, we would race for it.

We had this signal... tap the piano pedal twice (it made a small '"thud-thud" sound) meant come over, I need to talk to you.

Jo Ann would use this signal quite often especially when she was in the dining room piano. When I got there, she would usually scold me for some infraction or other. The scolding would last as long as she felt Mama wouldn't miss our playing.

Years later she told me that she actually didn't like the dining room piano. The dining room was dark and creepy she said. She took it only to prevent me from having it. Scolding me her way of comforting herself. While I was there, she wasn't alone, and the "monsters" can't get her.

There were also the times when arguments start because I can't sleep with the lights on, and she was scared of the dark, there were nights when she would suddenly wake up and jump into my bed. Initially, there was a lot of pushing and shoving as I didn't like having anyone beside me. Then a few years passed, and whenever she would jump into my bed. I would just get up, take my pillow, and jump into hers.

No more arguments and I fell right back to sleep. I couldn't say what happened to Jo.

One fight is still burned into my memory. We were arguing in Dad and Mom's bedroom. I forget what for...but it was a massive yelling spree. I was wearing blue "Casper the friendly Ghost" stretchy nighty and we were all riled up.

(Seeing that this is my blog, and as much as this is my version of the truth. I just have to say that whatever the fight was about, I was right and she was wrong. She was being pigheaded and I was fighting for Truth and Justice... She can just go on ahead write her own blog if she wants to contradict me. he he he)

Anyway nearing the end of the fight, we were all done in but of course, nothing was resolved. Jo Ann went out of the room, and in my frustration, I slammed the door right behind her.

Now I knew that the door wouldn't hit her but seeing that there was that one time when Dad shut the door hard while one and a half year old Lynette was standing in the doorway, sending her flying for a couple of seconds before he even realized it, enraged Jo Ann further. ( As if I could've sent her flying if I tried)

( Dad had opened the door again and asked us "Did I imagine it or was Lynette standing here?" mumbling apologies to her when he heard her screaming her head off. She wasn't hurt but suddenly being launched off without a countdown is a bit unsettling.)

So...with the door being slammed behind her, Jo Ann stormed right back in with all her anger re-energized. She came right for me screeching and stomping around, yelling about how the door could have hit her and stuff. I was defending myself just as she stomped towards me and stepped right onto my Casper shirt. I was suddenly yanked down and tried to pull myself back up. her foot got somehow entangled in folds of the shirt and as I tried pulling my shirt up, her leg came with it and we were suddenly into a Three Stooges slapstick routine as I kept yanking myself up as she hopped about while yelling.

I couldn't stand it anymore and I started laughing...hard. (which Jo Ann did not appreciate at all!!) In the end, she finally got her foot off, my shirt got stretched all out of shape, I was laughing like a hyena, and she hit me with a pillow or something and left the room in a huff.

I've had millions of other night shirts but that one was the one I remember the best. I think that was possibly the last of the down and dirty fights Jo Ann and I ever had.

Casper Shirt