I heard tell of a family in conflict, who during a funeral set a guard outside the church door in order that an opponent faction of the family couldn’t sneak out, rush back to the dead woman’s house, and STEAL things they weren’t entitled to. In fact they weren’t entitled to anything.
The funeral was lightly attended, perhaps due to the fact that the dead woman was so busy raising these delightful children she didn’t have time to develop friendships. The several scorned family members sat far away from the others at the back of the chapel. During the minister’s remarks one of them jimmied open a church window and the entire family climbed out, all in their Sunday best clothes. They DID sneak back to the old family home and they pretty much cleaned it out and were over the state line before the service was over!
I’m thinking, they may not be very “nice people” but WHAT A WONDERFUL SOLUTION! The other part of the family didn’t like them, at the moment anyway, so their solution didn’t change that, and think of all the ugly arguments they prevented. Besides I enjoy the image, in my mind, of an old woman reaching her leg high up and over the sill, perhaps losing a shoe, as she reaches her leg through the open colored glass window with her slip showing.
All of the children’s books I write and illustrate are about families because I feel most of what we are and what we learn is because of them. Some families are evil bad but most just bump us wrong but also set a form for us to follow. Most encourage and love us into good. Through my stories I hope mature people can pick up ideas to excite and enrich the lives of the ones we’re living with, like invented holidays. How about celebrating FROG DAY, GIRL’S DAY, or BAD MANNERS DAY! I imagine there are a hundred ways to celebrate each. Even without children in our lives we could be looking forward to these special days every year.
In the book, “Gracie’s Grandfather Makes Trouble” a little girl witnesses then participates in her grandfather’s frustrations as he lives with Grandmother in a house full of fake and real snakes. He DOES NOT LIKE, SNAKES! His solutions are very inventive and funny! Find my book on Amazon.     nancymauerman.com