The "Steve's Sunday Caper" Story

LDub ready for church.

It was an ordinary day.  Sunday and it's time to get ready for church.  My mom and dad made sure that the family went to church every Sunday.  Dad and I sang in the church choir while mom and my younger brother Steve sat in the congregation until it was time for Steve to head to Sunday School.  Someday soon I'm sure that dad will have my brother singing in the choir.   You have to be at least 8 years-old and able to read before you can be a member of the St. James Episcopal Boy's Choir.  Pretty prestigious choir and I really enjoy the singing and friendships I have made while being a member.  I'm all ready to go, dressed in my suit, white shirt and tie while mom and dad are waiting at the front door for my brother and me.  Dad yells up the stairs and I hustle down the steps.  "Steve, get down here.  We're ready to go!" dad yelled.  No Steve!  He yelled again.  Still no Steve.  Now dad is getting mad.  He heads up the stairs to Steve's bedroom door, turn the knob and nothing.  The door is locked.  Dad yells to him to open the door cause we have to be there soon so he and I can put on our choir gowns.  "I'm not going to church today," Steve yells through the heavy wooden door.  Steve's locked himself in his room.   Now dad is really mad.  The veins in his neck are standing out and he is getting pretty red.  Dad doesn't know what to do, but he sure as hell isn't going to go to church without my brother.  So, he finds the key to Steve's room, but since Steve has his key in the old lock on the other side of the door, dad's key won't enter the lock.  Now, in our house at 929 N. Queen St. the doors on the second floor open out into the hall to allow extra space in the room.  Dad heads to the basement and returns with a hammer and screwdriver.  By now he's sweating pretty good and he has his tie opened slightly and the top button of his shirt open.  Already too late for us to be ready to sing in the choir for today.  Me ...... I'm sitting on the davenport in the living room having a good time knowing that my brother is going to really get it when dad gets the door open.  Dad starts to remove the pins from the hinges, one by one.  He finally has all the pins out and starts to pull the door open from the hinged side.  He grabs the door and sits it in the hall.  Steve is laying under the covers, waiting.  Dad starts to yell and yell at him and tells him all the punishment he will incur.  But, Steve has really won the battle, since it is too late for church now and we have to stay home.   I'm not sure if he ever tired to pull that stunt again, but it worked that day.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.