Helen and Ed Stories III: Always the Mother

Many years ago, Gregory and I were visiting his mother Helen in Battle Creek. By now Ed, Gregory's dad, had died.

One of Helen's favorite treats was a chocolate milkshake from McDonalds. On the way home from an errand, Gregory thought it would be fun for the three of us to get  milkshakes. He ran the idea past her and she seconded the motion. 

As Gregory pulled into McDonalds, Helen motioned to the left towards the drive through, "Over there," she said.  Instead Gregory headed to the right towards a  parking space.

When he did not head towards the drive through, Helen became upset (and perhaps a little confused as older people do) and in her best disciplining mother tone of voice loudly told Gregory, "DO AS YOU'RE TOLD!"

Usually when with family took Helen for her milkshake they would pick it up at the drive through and take it home to drink. Gregory had thought it would be nice to go in and sit a a table while having our milkshakes.

Once in the parking space, Gregory calmly explained his intentions. Helen replied, "Oh OK." And no babies were killed. Gregory and his mom had that kind of relationship. Only on one occasion that I can remember did a baby almost get killed.