Thoughts.com Blogs - She could of had a V8 instead of a Pall Mall

When I was a kid I had many jobs......not as in jobs for payment.....at times I was a gopher and other times babysitter......my favorite was being on lookout!.....

We had an elderly neighborhood couple....The Bovington's.......I loved Mrs. Bovington....she had me call her Irene.....and for a little kid.....that made her my friend instead of my superior.....I was her lookout...for this job I was paid......

Irene was a character......her hairstyle was pincurls.....she always wore a sleeveless smock.....her smock was as thin as tissue paper....she was wrinkley like old leather......and loved to smoke.....I was her lookout when she smoked....A great job for a kid such as myself.....it beat out getting beers and handing my Dad tools I tell you that......She'd call my Mother and have her send me over....lol...still makes me laugh....my Mom sent me to help her......only she didn't know it was for my lookout skills....she thought I would be doing chores.....HA!.....not for Irene....she was my buddy....and my piggy bank was filling up thanks to her.....

When Irene would get the urge for a smoke.....she'd go out back and have me hiding on the side of the house.....Mr. Bovington used to ride an old bicycle around......had a big wire basket on the front.....and a sqeeze horn that he would honk at us kids as he drove by......Irenes hearing wasn't so good...thats why she needed me......She's enjoying her Pall Malls out back.....filterless of course....she told me only sissy's used filters.....Irene was a tough old bird except when it came to her husband.....It's not that he berated her for smoking.....he was concerned for her health.....As a kid ,to me ,she was my friend. I had no clue of her not being in good health......I think they played the game "what I don't know,won't hurt me"......She enjoyed her Pall Malls....and didn't want to hurt her husbands feelings.....so I played along.....besides collecting all that change helped me buy a bike later on......

We came close to getting caught a couple of times.....she wouldn't hear me....once I had to throw a dirt clod over the fence to get her attention.......she barely had time to run to the bathroom and go through the mouthwash ritual......I think her husband was onto her.....she always smelled of smoke and scope........Another thing why I liked her so much....was another girl that lived across the street from her.......she could of easily gave her the job.......Irene told me "I don't like that girl..she's too full of herself".....I kind of thought that too.....great minds think alike....as with all good things.....they come to an end.....I grew up and moved away........Irene passed away about 20 years ago......makes me sad she's no longer here......I will always have fond memories of her......I think of her often when I light up....To of had a cigarette together before she passed.......would of been awesome....Not the brightest thing to do.....but to share in one of her pleasures without having to be a lookout would of been great....Irene I'm a sissy sorry for that girl....I smoke filtered......I suppose I'm a double sissy....I put cream in my coffee too.....She always said if you cant drink your coffee black then you shouldn't be drinking it.....Maybe.....just maybe......she really doesn't mind?....

P.S.....at the end of that summer I bought a powder blue huffy ten speed bike.....from Irenes change,pop bottles,newspapers and babysitting the infamous Anderson twins...not a bad pay off.