a joyful noise

Yesterday I was thinking of Mineral City, Ohio -- a very little town I lived in from before kindergarten through first third, or half, of Third Grade.

At that age I -- and the other little kids -- could walk or ride our bikes anyplace in the town. We could go anywhere, and there was no worry of kidnapping or etc.

And thinking about third grade made me remember Mrs. M. who lived in a house that fronted sharply on our street -- like, you looked up, and there was her front porch, wham, above you, it seemed like, because of being built on a hill.

She had a parrot that could say things.

And the story I remember was, one day the Catholic priest was going to the Cs' house, across the street from Mrs. M., and as he approached their door, the parrot squawked out cheerfully, "Hello, Sweetie!"

And the priest was said to have turned around and looked straight up at Mrs. M. on her porch, in surprise. And Mrs. M. was flustered, believing that the holy man thought she had called out the unexpectedly flirtatious greeting....

Oh dear! GAL (giggling-a-little)
Such "problems" ...

And that town had Steiner's Bakery -- a sweet aroma like a million happy kitchens came from there & covered the town like a pleasant rain.

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