"in the early 1950's, we lived in a company house, one of many, so called, because the mining company had built them to house miners and their families. the kitchen clothes line was a common sight in most houses, since a clothes dryer was indeed a rarity among most mining families. it was more commonly used in winter, when access to the outside line was impossible. on one particular winter evening, my father was preparing to go to work on the evening shift. he took his lunch can, which my mother had prepared for him and he then, secured a leather belt around it's girth, which enabled him to sling it over his shoulder. he bundled up, putting on his old grey army coat and usual salt and pepper hat. with a small peck on the cheek, he said good bye to my mother. slinging his lunch can over his shoulder, off he went to work. the wind howled, as he trudged through knee deep snow, the half mile it took to reach the mine. once he got inside the washhouse, he stopped to chat with a few of his fellow workers. he could hear a few snickers in the background now and then, but paid no mind. meanwhile, my mother, at home, had decided to take the washing off the kitchen clothes line. she was however, missing one of her under garments. at the same time, my father, at the mine, had found them attached to his lunch can. he had inadvertantly hooked on to them, when he had slung his can over his shoulder. the boys at work, had a great laugh and the next morning, my mother was embarrassed when she found out what had happened, but later, she laughed at the thoughts of my father, going down the road with her unmentionables flapping in the breeze."   Submitted By: NULL