OLD HAUNTS PART TEN (SUNDAY DINNER)

AT ONE P.M. I WALKED UP THE DRIVE AND UP THOSE OLD FAMILIAR PORCH STEPS THAT I HAD WALKED  SIXTY YEARS AGO.  A LONG NARROW PORCH, BUT WIDE ENOUGH FOR A WICKER PORCH COUCH, AND END TABLE.  THE OLD AVACADO TREE WAS STILL THERE AND IT BRANCHED OUT OF THE GROUND RIGHT NEXT TO THE FOUNDATION OF THE PORCH.  TWO EQUAL SIZED TRUNKS WENT UP AND FORMED A PERFECT VEE UNTIL THEY SPREAD OUT IN A PROFUSION OF BRANCHING LIMBS AND LEAVES.  THE LIMBS HUNG DOWN ABIT AND SHADED THE PORCH.   I CLIMBED THAT TREE MANY TIMES BACK THEN.  I PAUSED BEFORE RINGING THE DOOR BELL.  THERE WAS THE LITTLE BROWN BOX HANGING NEXT TO DOOR WITH "LEAVE A NOTE" PAINTED ON THE LITTLE DOOR OF THE BOX.  I RANG THE BELL AND, OH, BOY,  DID THAT TAKE ME BACK...TWO CYLINDRICAL TUBES HANGING RIGHT INSIDE DOOR AND A LITTLE HAMMER HIT ONE AND THEN THE OTHER IN ABOUT ONE SECOND.  I REMEMBERED THEIR FRANTIC MUSIC DURING THE BIG QUAKE OF JULY, 1952.   MY DAD CAME TO THE DOOR AND WELCOMED ME WITH A BIG SMILE.  MY MOTHER WAS STILL IN THE KITCHEN, BUT SHE DUCKED OUT AND CAME TO GREET ME ALSO.  NO WONDER THEY HAD SO MANY FRIENDS.  A GENUINE LOVE FOR PEOPLE.  I FELT SO CALM,  SO WELCOME.  THE OLD HOME WAS  HOME TO ME AND STILL WAS.  THE FRONT ROOM WAS PLEASANT, BUT OBVIOUSLY BEFORE MY DAD RECEIVED A PROMOTION AND COMPLETELY REDECORATED THE PLACE INCLUDING ALL NEW FURNITURE, NEW WALL TO WALL CARPETING..THE WORKS.  BUT I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE OLD STUFF.  MY FATHER WAS A MASTER AT MAKING PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTIBLE.  HE COULD SENSE WHEN IT WAS TIME TO CARRY THE CONVERSATION OR LET OTHERS TALK.  DINNER WAS NOT QUITE READY AND SO DAD TOOK ME ON A TOUR.  I PSYCHED MYSELF TO NOT TALK TOO MUCH OR ASK QUESTIONS WHICH I ALREADY KNEW THE ANSWERS TO.  BOBBY'S ROOM DOOR WAS CLOSED AND HE WAS INSIDE DOING SOMETHING THAT HE WANTED TO DO.  MY DAD STARTED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND I SAID,,,,WAIT A MINUTE, HE MIGHT BE UNDRESSED.  I BROKE A CARDINAL RULE, BUT MY DAD SAID  "COULD BE"  I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT I HAD POSTED A SIGN ON MY DOOR.."KNOCK, BEFORE ENTERING."   MY WORD, THEY NOT ONLY CAUSED ME TO BE IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT HAD FED ME, CLOTHED ME, BOUGHT PRESENTS FOR ME.."  AND I WROTE "KNOCK BEFORE ENTERING"  MY DAD SHOWED ME THE VERY SMALL BATHROOM, IT HAD A TUB AND SHOWER, BUT JUST ENOUGH ROOM TO MOVE ABOUT A LITTLE.   THE WALLS WERE PINK TILE TRIMMED WITH A MAROON. THE WASH BASIN CURVED UNDER AND TRANSFORMED INTO A SINGLE WHITE COLUMN THAT SUPPORTED IT.  ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR HUNG MY FATHER'S RAZOR STRAPS.  HE WAS OLD SCHOOL AND SHAVED WITH A STRAIGHT EDGE.  I GAZED INTO THE SMALL MIRROR ABOVE THE BASIN AND REMEMBERED HOW MANY HOURS I SPENT IN FRONT OF THAT MIRROR..ASSESSING MYSELF.  I USED A HAND MIRROR TO LOOK AT MY DUCKTAIL WHICH WAS SO IN WITH THE KIDS BACK THEM.  LONG HAIR COMBED STRAIGHT BACK AND OVER TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK OF THE HEAD.  MY FATHER SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A GOOD PLACE TO BURY AN AXE.  I ALSO SURVEYED MY PIMPLES. I HATED THIS THINGS....I HAD A FEW BUT THEY WERE LIKE TAIL LIGHTS ON CARS. ANGRY RED KNOTS.  I REMEMBER MY FIRST WHISKERS...TWO OF THEM RIGHT TOGETHER ON LOWER RIGHT OF MY CHIN.  I HEARD BOB LEAVING HIS BEDROOM AND MOM YELLED "DINNER IS READY."  I FELT LIKE I MIGHT FAINT.  SO VERY DEAR. SO VERY FAMILIAR,  SO MUCH LIKE YESTERDAY BUT SO FAR AWAY.   (TO BE CONTINUED)