Trautman Stories - Egg Shampoo

Kay and Jimmy and Debby were playing Hide and Go Seek in the haymow of the barn. The hay mow was the top floor, where hay was stored either in bales or loose piles for the winter. Dad was downstairs milking the cow, while the cats waited for their share of the milk when he was done. In the cold winter that it was, a little warm milk, straight out of the cow, was a perfect treat for them.

The cats had their job - managing the rodent population - and they roamed freely all over the farm. The chickens, on the other hand, had the job of providing the family with eggs, and they were supposed to do that in the chicken house. Sometimes there was a nomad chicken who wandered to other parts of the farm, including the barn.

The children did most of the egg gathering every evening. They only checked the barn under duress: If mom ordered them to, and watched to make sure they actually went there. So as the three children played hide and go seek, they had to watch out for random eggs lying about.

Debby had found what she was sure was the best hiding place. It was on the haymow floor, surrounded the hay bales, with a high cliff up bales on one side. Jimmy had been found already, and had drifted downstairs to watch dad milk and to bother the cats. Kay was still hunting for Debby

Debby was very excited about being the last to be found. As the littlest, at 6 years old, she was usually first found. She was so proud of herself, so excited. She could hear the sound of Kay above her, on that cliff of bales, searching and searching. Suddenly there was a cold crash on her head!

Debby jumped up, frightened and confused. She put her hand up to touch her head and it was all sticky and slimy. Then a thick yellow and clear streaked liquid began dripping down her face. It was an egg smashed on her head!

Climbing out of the hay, tears and egg mingling in a real mess, Debby made her way to the stairs down. Kay was right beside her, worried that Debby was hurt. Both were most worried about what mom would say. Both parents had told them to be careful about eggs in the haymow. Dad continued to milk the cow while Debby and Kay began their trek to the house. It wasn’t really far, but it seemed endless, and ending too soon at the same time.

They knew they had to go, and they feared their mother's temper. This was going to make her so mad!! Cold had frozen the egg in Debby's hair, making it clank together. Both girls were afraid Debby’s frozen hair would all fall out! Egg was on her coat and face. Tears were freezing on her cheeks. Oh, this was going to be bad!

When they entered the house Mom came right away because she heard the crying. Kay was trying desperately to explain that it was an acccident. There had been an egg up there that she had "accidently" kicked with her foot and it fell on Debby's head. Kay really, really, really didn’t mean to drop an egg on Debby. Really.

For her part, Debby could not meet her mother's eyes. She just waited for the punishment to begin. Kay had run out of gas with her hurried explanation, and still mom was silent. This was going to be even worse than the two girls had imagined. Then mom spoke:

"Well, I hear egg shampoos are good for the hair."