My grandpa is a stickler on the rules of etiquette for ladies.
Whenever I’m walking across the yard, he tells me to straighten up my head and stop looking for Nichols.
If I’m not sitting on the edge of my seat with my back straight, grandpa pushes me physically to the front of the seat and says to sit up straight. The other afternoon I was sitting outside slumped over, and grandpa told me to sit up straight. I replied that it was too hot, and I was covered in sweat. That wasn’t the time to think about posture. Grandpa responded that ladies perspire, and animals sweat. I got miserable. I told him that if he had a working cooling system in the farmhouse, I would not have to worry about being covered in sweat or perspiring. I’d just turn up the temperature control and be comfortable like all my friends. Grandpa proceeded to tell me how ungrateful I was for everything I had and I needed to start being a respectful young lady. I have no idea how my grandfather always holds his composure, despite the fact that he did. I knew how much easier it would be to hold my composure and posture, if mom had the cooling system repaired. The cooling system broke down, but since mom didn’t have the money to make the repairs instantly, I was going without AC. I can only hope that mom gets paid and has the cooling system fixed before I’m old enough to move out to my own place.