Uncle Adolph's Merry-go-round

Every summer, my Uncle Adolph would visit us in Nadudvar. He came to see his mother and other relatives, but mainly to take part in the memorial day for his late father whom he revered with awe. He stayed a couple of days with each relative.

Adolph came to our house on a Sunday afternoon, and I was always glad when visitors arrived. After a short while, he asked my mother if he could take us children to the merry-go-round by the market. My mother bathed my two brothers and dressed them nicely. She said Adolph could take the boys to the merry-go-round, but that I had to take a nap.

Much as I begged, my mother would not let me go. She bathed and dressed me nicely - I still remember the white vest and shorts set. The vest had big white buttons on its lower edge and the shorts had button holes on its upper edge. Then my mother combed my beautiful gold-blond hair and walked me to my room to sleep. With no desire whatsoever, I walked into the room, my mother following my footsteps uneasily. I climbed up on my bed, closed my eyes tightly and lay quietly faking sleep. My mother pulled down the window-shades, leaving the room almost pitch-dark. For a couple of moments, she stood beside my bed watching me. I did not stir, so my mother left the room. Without thinking twice (my bed was just beneath the window) I climbed out the window and ran through the front gate. I stole out of the house without my mother noticing! I just was very sorry about being bare-foot! But my mother put my sandals out of reach as a precaution against an attempted escape. Fast as my young skinny legs would carry me, I ran all the way to the merry-go-round and found my uncle. He took me for a ride on one of the fancy wood horses. What an ignorant child I must have been - but I was so happy and content!

© David Muskal, 2001