Every family on the planet at one time or another had a relative that everyone knows about, but no one talks about without saying, “Bless his heart” after speaking of him. For the purpose of discussion, we will call him Uncle Mulberry. Bobby Womack’s song Harry Hippy was written about his brother; in part, the inspiration for our Uncle Mulberry. More than likely, one of his many harmless transgressions was the topic of conversation. Being the respectable parents, we make sure that we don’t gossip about him around the children. We can’t understand it, but for some idiotic reason our little munchkins like the bum. When they hear his name, the next dreaded words out of their mouths are “Uncle Mulberry; he’s coming to visit! When is Uncle Mulberry coming over? He’s going to stay with us isn’t he? We don’t have the foggiest reason why, but every time he comes around, all the children squeal with glee and follow after him like the Pied Piper of Hamelin. When “Conquering Hero Mulberry” arrives the only gift he ever produced is a big wide grin, and jokes that we have heard many times before, but still keeps us all laughing. It is important to say that Uncle Mulberry never outstay his welcome. Staying long enough to remind ourselves that we foolishly cast aside our free spirt somewhere after childhood.
The reader will determine the parable of this story As, we all need to remind ourselves of our “Uncle Mulberry.”
Pappachoppers 