Soon the courtship began, and being the cute Little Sister, I got to tag along on a few dates. By today’s standard, Big Brother and Banana Split Girl were too young for marriage…he was 18 and she was only 16. Having two older brothers, I was excited to have a sister in the family. And that is exactly what she was to me—a sister. I wanted to be just like my new sister-in-law. She wore cute clothes and shoes, got a Beatle haircut, could twirl a baton–fling it in the air and catch it, too. She could sew, roller skate backwards, throw a ball like a boy, and did the best cartwheel ever! I thought she could leap tall buildings with a single bound…who wouldn’t want to be like her?! On the Friday evening of their wedding, Banana Split Girl was a vision in white, wearing a ballet-length wedding dress, carrying a white Bible with flowers on the top.
While Big Brother and Banana Split Girl were still newlyweds, I was invited for sleepovers at their garage apartment. I remember helping make iced tea and we exploded the glass pitcher all over the kitchen! Her first turkey was cooked, giblet bag and neck still inside the bird. We never let her live it down. Inexperience and kitchen disasters later morphed into Banana Split Girl being a kitchen marvel and gourmet cook.
The summer I was twelve, both of us got into trouble when she played matchmaker. She set me up on my first date…an unchaperoned walk to Shoney’s for breakfast with the boy who lived next door to her parents. Let’s just say…Big Brother, Mama & Daddy were not happy…and I got sent home with no boys in my foreseeable future. She and I laughed and shared secrets. But some secrets she didn’t keep. She had to show my brothers my first “Band-Aid” bra, box of feminine products, and “You're a Young Lady Now” booklet my mom ordered. I was mortified!
One of my best memories is after First Niece was born when Big Brother and Banana Split Girl lived in a little duplex off The Plaza. We put baby First Niece in her stroller and caught a bus downtown to watch a matinee of Breakfast at Tiffany’s at The Carolina Theatre. I felt so grown up.
During my teen years, Banana Split Girl and I swapped clothes (and wigs) just like sisters. Since she was two inches shorter than me, her dresses were definitely mini-skirts; and since Daddy didn’t approve of short skirts, I had to sneak out of the house in them.
Since she married so young, Banana Split Girl couldn't finish high school with her peers. But it was important to her to finish her education, so she did…at night school. She was married several years before she got her first driver’s license. I would often tag along on late night runs to the store. You know…for important stuff like bobby pins! LOL! We were in the Park ‘N Shop grocery store on Wilkinson Boulevard late one night when it was robbed by a man with a gun. She saw what was happening, grabbed me, and we ran and hid in the bathroom until it was all over. Yes, back then, I think she could have leaped tall buildings in a single bound!
Nieces Two and Three were added to the quiver of Big Brother and Banana Split Girl…loved by all. As with Niece One, I cried because I wasn't permitted to visit the maternity ward at their births. Stupid rules! Nieces One, Two and Three grew into Little Girls who loved their aunt, and were a little jealous of boyfriends. I kissed a few toads before meeting Mr. Right. Of course, Banana Split Girl was the obvious choice for my matron of honor. In the wedding planning, she discovered she was expecting Little Four...long awaited Only Nephew. Of course, we didn't know all that at the time..before ultrasounds. No problem; we just added yardage to the waist of the red bridesmaid dress and forged onward. She hosted my shower, did my hair, veil, and makeup. After the wedding, she put my suitcases and clothes in our car, then stood in the driveway waving...as I rode away to my new life.
Distance, becoming a wife with babies of my own, balancing a full-time job, and life in general stretched the connection between me and my Banana Split Girl. Family dinners, shopping trips, visits, and phone calls became less frequent. I can sadly lament, she worked harder at staying connected than I did. I deeply regret that fact.
Yesterday, I got the sad news. Banana Split Girl passed away at the age of 67. She made the last phone call to me, and probably the one before that. I deeply mourn her loss!
Copyright 2015
Charlotte Laney
Banana Split Girl ordered the Kimberley Clark Prepare for Flo's Visit package for me. It arrived via UPS and I unknowingly opened the huge box of every maxi pad imaginable in front of every kid in the neighborhood, As embarrassing as that was, I was even more mortified to have dad read me a chapter from the booklets every single night while she worked nights at K-Mart.
ReplyDeleteNiece One, I feel your pain! Big Brother showed up on the morning of my wedding, manual in hand...just in case! Oh my goodness!!! Gotta love him!!
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