002. Middles


It was Mom's 40th birthday and both sides of the family had come together to celebrate, but I wasn't having much fun.

I was sitting on the couch, my brothers and the cousins who were old enough (all of them boys) were outside playing some sort of game that involved jumping all over each other. Since I was wearing a white dress and didn't want to get it ruined, or get an elbow in my face, I stayed right where I was.

My Great Uncle Ted was close by, near the table that held chips, nuts and dips, looking thoughtful. I realised he had forgotten his glasses again and since he didn't have the best sight, decided to help him.

"Hi, Uncle Ted, what are you looking for?"

"Oh, Linda, dear," Uncle Ted replied. "Any peanuts here?"

I grinned and picking up the bowl of peanuts, which were right in front of him, handed them to him.

"Thank you, dear," Uncle Ted smiled and we both sat on the couch. "Why aren't you outside with your little cousins?"

"Just look at them Uncle Ted," I pointed at the scuffle, Marty was been squashed by Dave and four of our cousins!

Uncle Ted squinted a bit, and then turned back to me. "Hmmm, they are a bit rough." He added as an afterthought, "and you're the middle child."

I sighed.

"I know the feeling, dear, I'm the middle child after all," he chewed on a peanut.

"But you had brothers, Uncle Ted." I pointed out.

"Well, yes, but Pat's six years older and Adam and your grandfather Max are so quiet. None of them wanted to play sports like me. It's pretty hard to play baseball by yourself!" Uncle Ted grinned.

I giggled, trying to imagine how he could have managed that.

"And sometimes I got lost in the shuffle a bit," he continued, "but then Ma and Pa often forgot to make me do my chores!" He gave me a wink.

Aunt Sally who had come by and was munching on some chips, turned around. "The family shuffle," she rolled her eyes, "don't talk to me about that!"

"Did you have trouble too, Aunt Sally?" I asked.

"Oh yes," Sally sat down on my other side. "You're talking about being the middle child, right?"

"How did you know?" I asked.

Aunt Sally grinned. "Middles can always tell."

"But you had sisters," I pointed out.

"True, but your mother was eight years older than me, and Aunt Anne nine years younger! And I was surrounded by boys! The things your Uncles Milton, Toby and Joey pulled on me!"

"Hey, Sal," at that moment Uncle Milton, with Uncle Toby walked by, "how's the shoe going?"

Aunt Sally gave him an evil look. "You two better watch it...or you might get some of your own back."

The uncles exchanged a look and laughed.

"Keep hoping, Sal," Uncle Toby said and the two headed off.

I looked up at Aunt Sally, expecting her to be upset, but instead she gave me a wink. "You just wait and see who comes out top...after all middles always win."


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