“Promenaders?” Chrissy looked up from her homework, a confused look on her face. “Wow! Such a weird word! Wonder what it means. Mom, are you listening to me?”
Julie, Chrissy’s mom, stopped preparing dinner and turned to talk to her daughter. “Yes sweetie, I’m listening. I know the word and you do, too. Just think about it for a minute, Chris. Anything come to mind?”
Chrissy’s face was skewed in a bewildered expression. “It sorta sounds like that weird fruit, the one with all the red seeds in the center which you’re supposed to eat. How bizarre is that … eating seeds? Ya know what I’m talking about, mom?”
Julie laughed. “You’re thinking of pomegranates, Chris! And yes, it’s a little strange but the seeds are really delicious. I’ll get some for you to taste. Now, back to your homework … ‘promenaders’. It’s a word you’ve heard before. Try again.”
Chrissy absentmindedly chewed on her pencil, deep in thought, then smiled as though a huge secret had suddenly been revealed. “I know! Prom-en-ad-ers are teenagers who go to the prom!” And she burst out laughing at her play on words.
“Very clever, Chrissy girl, but not quite right. Wait … you’ve just given me an idea! Let’s see if this jogs your memory.” Julie dashed out of the kitchen and returned with one of Chrissy’s yearbooks. “Remember when everyone took square dancing in 6th grade?”
“Sure, but what does that yearbook have to do with anything, mom? That was, like, ages ago when I was eleven. I’m fourteen now!”
Julie rolled her eyes. “Yes, I know … you’re so very grown up now! Here, humor me and take a look at this picture. It’s from one of the square dances you used to go to. Read the caption.”
Chrissy heaved an exaggerated sigh, took the yearbook from Julie and recited the verse:
*Then you all promenade with the sweet corner maid singing “Oh, Johnny! Oh, Johnny! Oh!”*
Chrissy’s eyes opened wide. “I remember that song! That’s the part of the dance when we strolled around the dance floor. Sooo, that must mean promenaders are people who stroll!”
“There ya go, kiddo! You got it!” Julie exclaimed. “Process of elimination; just some of the ‘smarts’ we acquire as we get older – like grey hair.”
Chrissy jumped off the kitchen stool and raced down the hall to her bedroom.
“Hey … where you off to? Dinner’s almost ready” Julie called out after her.
“I’ll be back in a second, mom. Just checking if I have any grey hair yet!”
NAR © 2023
I hope you’ll join me today
At The Movies
for another song and
a great video.
https://rhythmsection.blog/
The Elephant's Trunk 