slapstick

blafferty That's a great story! What interesting parents you must have had! Jul 20, 2011

reesetee Bilby, you wouldn't want me to have a complex, would you? Jan 29, 2009

bilby What's this banana cream pie doing here on the table, reesetee? I don't remember ordering one. Jan 29, 2009

reesetee Sionnach, that's wonderful! Your mother was one amazing woman (and your father clearly her true match). Thanks for posting this story. You've inspired me to reconsider acting on my own pie-in-the-face fantasy. :-) Jan 29, 2009

bilby Fantastic :-) Jan 29, 2009

sionnach I hope my Wordie colleagues will indulge me and not be bothered by another family reminiscence (my mother would have been 85 next week; she's been on my mind a lot recently):

Lemon Meringue Pie

It's Sunday lunch. I'm in my mid teens, my sister in her late teens. It's probably summertime, since all four of us are at home for the weekend. We've had the delicious lamb, and everyone is looking forward to the lemon meringue pie, which my mother had made that morning. My father is starting to do that twitching thing he does when he's mentally already on the golf course. My sister and I each have a section of the Sunday paper, randomly reading out sentences or passages that catch our fancy. Not a lot of conversation, but it's a companionable kind of silence. In other words, totally normal.
Out of the blue, my mother speaks:

"Jack, you wouldn't want me to have a complex, would you?"
"Of course not, dear", mumbled in a way that makes it clear he hadn't really listened to what she said.
"What kind of complex?", (this from me)
"Well", she explains, "I was watching some stupid slapstick picture on the TV last night, and it occurred to me that I never have as much fun as they seemed to be having. Then, when I was preparing lunch, I kept thinking of all the things I've never done. I'm starting to get a complex. Jack, you'd understand if I did something silly, just so as not to have a complex, wouldn't you?"
He's listening now, but still hasn't figured out exactly where the danger lies.
"Nobody wants you to have a complex about anything, lovey".

And that was all the encouragement she needed. Her face a complicated mix of affection and glee, she lifts the lemon meringue pie and mashes it full force into my Dad's face, *just like on the TV*.
Horrified silence. For once in our lives, my sister and I are dumbstruck. Then, in the driest tone imaginable, from my father: "Mmmmm. Lemon meringue. My favorite".

And everyone dissolves into hysterics, giggling fiercely and uncontrollably for at least the next five minutes. Jan 29, 2009

born2badored Now thats funny! I love the charlie chaplin film where he trys to take advantage of the ugly girl...Blah!, good luck! Dec 7, 2006