Post 16: "Ma's Holiday"

From 13-Year-Old Anne's Journal —November 22, 1982  – GOOD"Ma decided to take a holiday so Mr. Edwards babysat. He kept losing Carrie. He made them snake meat stew and he shot a hole through the roof. Ma & Pa came back early to see Laura & Mary & Carrie."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2zXssYzCQI____________________________________________________From Tracy —Finally some comedic relief amongst all the birthin' and dyin'! I don't remember this episode much except for the bonnet that Ma doesn't buy. I like the pink bow in her hair that she wears to the theater much better anyway. Love the chipper 50s era car show music (?!) while they frantically get the house in order for Ma's early arrival. I honestly don't remember my mother enjoying trips away from me either when she took them — which were incredibly rare. Usually the babysitters would invite their boyfriends over and have sex in my parent's bed. Or drink my Dad's booze. Or both. One time I was locked in a closet for a couple of hours while my parents had a night out. Mr. Edwards would have made a much better babysitter than some of the ones I had. What ____________________________________________________From Anne —Whoa, Tracy: did you lock yourself in the closet or did your parents lock you in? Were you freaking, or were you fine? Did you realize the babysitter was humping? (I guess you must've, or you wouldn't have reported it here). My nightmares are about being a babysitter. Retrospective advice: beware a 6-year-old future Mensa member.I really felt for Pa in this episode. The dude was clearly trying to set himself up for some action with his wife and he got nothin' - either on the road or in the posh Mankato hotel. Agreed: Ma's pink bow and up-do were a nice change. Also like Mr. Edwards' pink long johns. Too bad about his illiteracy. Do they address that in a future episode?It's nice to see the wacky, maniacal Carrie get some attention in an episode, even if hitched to a post or nailed to the roof.____________________________________________________From Tracy —The babysitter locked me in the closet. Not Mom and Dad. But that doesn't make sense, does it? There are no locks on closet doors. Maybe she put a chair up against the knob. Or just told me to go in there and I did. (I was a very obedient child.) I do remember thinking "Well! This closet is a mess!! Might as well tidy it up while I'm in here." I don't remember feeling scared or pissed off. I really don't know how long I was in there but I do remember getting out of the closet and then hearing all the humping sounds. I'm probably combining two or three different stories. I do remember this clearly: how fantastic my folks smelled when they came home after a night out. Like steak and liquor and cigarettes and perfume and night air. If only I could have bottled it.