After getting home from school and dishing out ice cream, we watched television. I liked The Mickey Mouse Club because I followed the serial adventures of Annette. David and I each became hooked on Dark Shadows, a soap opera with what might have been the first television vampire.
Susan, nine years younger, liked cartoons.
Too bad for her, majority ruled. David and I were the majority … every single day.
“I should get a turn once in a while,” she complained.
“Let’s take a vote,” I said. “Who wants Dark Shadows?”
David and I raised our hands. Two against one. We won again!
Susan – our channel changing little sister.
After repeating this a few times, she gave us no choice (so the following actions were all her fault). Time for anger management.
A deep sump hole sat to the left of our television console. David grabbed one of Sue’s feet and I grabbed the other. We dangled her over the sump hole, laughing so hard we almost lost our grip. Her long hair fell down, brushing the top layer of cobwebs.
Susan screamed a bit, but always ended up agreeing to leave the television alone.
Our little sister did not appear to like living in a democracy.
Lesson learned: An old saying is, ‘Courage, not compromise, brings God’s approval’. Susan displayed courage until the spiders got too close to her hair, but then she compromised. David and I didn’t compromise, but I don’t think we brought any of God’s approval.
Related posts: Chapter Twelve: Wicked Cinderella; Scary Temper Problem
Now it’s your turn: How did you manage anger problems?
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1950 Memories of Suburban Adventures 
I remember those days of not too many clear channels. And the majority always rules! LOL!
Elle, we had two clear channels and one fuzzy one. Of course, the ones we considered clear would be called fuzzy nowadays.
And majority rules is always fun when you’re in the majority!
When I got angry as a child, I screamed and cried a lot, I think. 😉 Growing up, I gradually learned to control my temper… until I had kids… 😉 They manage let me forget anger management. 😉
Choosing, I can’t blame Susan. David and I were the cause of her screaming and crying. Tweens and teenagers are one of the main causes for the need of anger management.
How did I manage anger problems with my little brother? I can’t remember a time when what we were arguing about was all that important to me, to tell you the truth. I’d argue for a while but would get bored with the whole thing. I’d walk away from it and find something else to do.
Glynis, sounds like you were a lot more mature than my brother and I.
I think it was a different show that you wanted to watch. I lovvved “Dark Shadows”!!! You should remember I love scary movies and still do! ….BUT, I definitely remember you not wanting me to watch a “program” and doing that MEAN act to your sweet, angelic, little sister, who only wanted to watch an educational TV show. =( It’s okay though, I never told you that I squished a little spider and wiped it on your two pillows! =)
This sounds like my little sister, Susan. As for the spider pillows, my big question would have to be ‘What did you put on David’s pillow?” After all, I couldn’t have held you up alone! Ha ha!
Hehehe
Yes, Susan, there was a teeny bit of devil in you. But you were still the sweet one compared to your two older siblings!
Something about ‘the will of the majority while having regard for the needs of minorities’? I like the photo – there’s a certain steely determination in those eyes.
Yes, Fred, that describes her perfectly. As for your quote, I think we only learned the first half at the time.
Oh my God, you and David were terrors. Poor Susan!
Spunky, I guess I have to agree. On the other hand, we DID give her democracy lessons!
Anger Management? Who was managing whose anger? 🙂
Those were hard-won democracy lessons. Was George Bush Jr. also a student? 😛
Suresh, this is why David and I didn’t go into politics. We knew we’d end up getting impeached! Of course, I think I would have made a great monarch.
My toddler son amazed (and frightened) me, for, when he got angry (what could make a baby so angry?!), he would go and bang his head against the nearest wall. Luckily, he’s learnt better anger management skills since then.
Oh no, Mimmy! That isn’t much better than biting! I’m glad he’s learned other ways.
So tell me, does she speak to you these days? 😉
Suz, we’re very close. I literally just found out that she got even by squishing a spider and rubbing spider juice on our bed pillows. It makes me laugh when I picture her doing that.
That’s just too funny. Isn’t it silly the things that kids do to each other?
Suz, she said it was a tiny spider because she was afraid of big ones.