Grandma's giggles had transformed into cackles of hilarity instantly infecting the rest of us sitting at the dining room table with laughter. Maybe it was because it was the end of a Christmas day or maybe it was the bubbly white sparkling wine she sipped at all day but we saw a giddy side of our stoic and reserved Grandma us kids had never witnessed before.
What was so amusing to Grandma was the red and white aerosol can of whip cream she held in her hand. She was doled the task of squirting each slice of pumpkin pie that had been set in front of us. The notion of holding the can upside down and pressing the nozzle to allow a stream of fluffy sweet cream spurt into a dollop of white sweetness was a novelty new to her. As she went around the table her spontaneous laughter grew into belly laughs with every pfffftt she created from the tap of the can.
For a young girl like myself the moment was magical to have so much fun erupting in my family over a simple can of whip cream. She got to my younger brother, perched at the far end of the table in his high chair, and carelessly squirted my brother in the face rather than the pie. Commotion broke out as Grandma stood there horrified as the rest of us were howling and snorting with laughter pointing at my brother covered in white foam while he was bawling and rubbing his eyes smearing the white goo from his face into his hair.
That was forty years ago and Grandma has long since passed away. Yet at every holiday dinner I keep a red and white can of Redi-Whip on the dessert table to bring keep the magical memory alive.
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This post inspired by the awesome folks at www.trifectawritingchallenge.com
Todays word is Infect. Be sure to stop by and read some infectious writings!
