by Gabriella Samms

Created on: August 20, 2009   Last Updated: August 22, 2009

After my younger sister married, she and her husband decided to move about three hours north from where my mother lived. My mom, always willing to lend a hand, offered her services to help my sister unpack the sixty or so boxes that had taken up most of the floor space in her new home. Since my mother had not arrived at my sister's until late in the afternoon, they both decided to start the unpacking process the next morning after everyone got a good night's sleep. In fact, they were sure they would get more accomplished quicker the next day, as my sister's husband and a few of his friends would be able to help too. They planned to get to bed early so they could get a fresh start in the morning. Unfortunately, not only did the boxes take up so much room, but only one bed, a twin, had been set up for sleeping in.

With both possessing a stubborn nature, my mom and sister argued back and forth as to where each should sleep. My mother insisted on taking the floor, while my sister insisted that mom have the bed. In the end, mom won; she made her sleeping quarters deep inside a miniature room that would soon hold my sister and her husband's wardrobes.

The next morning, bright and early, my brother-in-law began opening boxes while he waited for his friends to arrive. My sister was already in the kitchen, making the coffee that would give mom the boost to start her day. Mom usually awoke before everyone, but having slept on the floor, my sister assumed she probably had a fitful night's sleep and didn't bother waking her.

With the arrival of my brother-in-law's friends, everyone but mom began sifting through boxes. Soon after, my sister could hear my mother heading down the hall toward the living room where everyone was surrounded by boxes and crumpled newspaper wrappings. As my mom reach the room, my brother-in-law looked up, and without hesitation, introduced my mom to his friends. Hey guys, this is my mother-in-law; she just came out of the closet.

Thirty minutes of valuable unpacking time were lost due to the hysteria that ensued by that comment. Of course, mom being as old fashioned as she is, had to be told why everyone but her was laughing. With thorough explanation, my mother finally got the joke.

To this day, my sister's closet is always a topic of conversation when people visit.

Especially if the visits involve an over night's stay.

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