Lynda Marie Austin

A Prune on a Stick for Christmas Lynda Marie Austin

This hilarious tale begins on Christmas night when the grandchildren question the ?prune-on-a-stick? holiday tradition held at their grandparents? house every year. They correctly surmise they might be the only family in America (possibly the entire world) holding a Christmas prune ritual. Nana decides the pre-teens are probably old enough to hear the truth concerning the origins of this unusual family custom. She volunteers Grandpa?s skills at recounting family history, letting him explain how their custom began. So as the snow falls and the fireplace glows, he gathers them round to tell the story. This prune custom originated during the summer of 1960 when Grandpa was a lad of seventeen and people called him Howie. It features a cast of family members (some) best left forgotten, various species of unruly animals, The Packard, The Rodger?s Mystery House, Mexican Braceros, and Rex, the wonder dog. The story makes mention of regularity and people with poor driving skills. There is also a small aside to George Baggett, who had the audacity to fall ?offen? his roof and die. It is a tale of young love and a Giant Prune roadside stand, a tale of humiliation and redemption at its finest. Lastly, it depicts the spirit of Christmas at its most honest, when the love for family allows that you don the Mr. Prune Man uniform and go sell prune juice on a foggy Christmas day.