Erma Bombeck Writing Competition - Winners
2007
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition
Honorable Mention
Human Interest - Global
Darla Curry
The Woodlands, Texas
"Black Magic Doesn't Impress Daddy"
| Hollywood's cinema admissions peaked in 1946, the same year I staged a dramatic performance for Daddy. At noon I tagged along with friends to the small store across the street from school. Mrs. Ludeke stood like a cherished ornament behind the sales counter to receive money for carefully selected treats. I noticed Carolyn and Sandy never handed Mrs. Ludeke the five cents due for candy bars. They merely recited two magic words, "Charge it," and the exchange was a done deal. Although I didn't know what "charge it" meant, I concluded that this supernatural shortcut to lip-smack sensation qualified as a higher learning gem. These two hocus-pocus words changed my purchase power. The next time I visited the store, I made my selection, sidled up to the counter, plopped the packet of M & M's in front of Mrs. Ludeke, and said, "Charge it." Abracadabra. The act worked. So I performed it again . and again. One afternoon Daddy invited me to ride along to the small store to fill our pickup with gas. While he dispensed ethyl into the tank, I strolled inside, charged a Baby Ruth, opened the wrapper, and put a luscious lump in my mouth. I walked outside and floated past Daddy like a helium balloon at a birthday party. He failed to notice my theatrics, so I moved closer and danced around his feet. Finally, he spied me chomping on the nutty delight. That's when the plot twisted. "Where'd you get that?" he demanded. I smiled. It was my time to shine. "I charged it," I said proudly. "From Mrs. Ludeke." I could tell by the look on Daddy's face my melodramatic voodoo had turned into black magic. He released the gas nozzle and "charged" into the store. "How many times has she charged candy in here?" Daddy asked Mrs. Ludeke. Mrs. Ludeke sensed me heading into trouble full throttle. She said, "This is the first time." Daddy spared me a long lecture on the way home. He believed whatever you put in your mouth should be paid for on the spot - with cash. He kindly explained that charge it means to put a debt on one's tab with obligation to pay later. That's the line in the script I had missed. After supper I overheard Daddy relate my acting debut to Mother. Her first response was, "Well, doesn't she know better than that?" Then she laughed. Now I realize Daddy's pride guided his actions that day. Charging a nickel goody made it look like we were poor. I had been the innocent who almost ruined our family's reputation. Daddy never mentioned this incident to me again. |