MONIQUE MICHEL / L’Observateur / March 24, 1999

Last week, much to the surprise of my entire family, my Paw-Paw and Mimi Keller left to spend a few days in Gulf Shores, Ala. Thiswas surprising for a couple of reasons. First of all, we weresurprised at the mere fact that they were leaving, but we decided not to try to figure that out. The second reason that it was strangewas because they left at night. My Mimi usually doesn’t like to beon the road too late, and she is always very safety conscious.

Anyway, we were happy that they were going to be getting some much deserved quiet time.

The next morning, my Aunt Kay began trying to call the condominium where Paw-Paw and Mimi were staying. No one everanswered the phone. Not only that, but later that afternoon, mymom, Aunt Kay, Aunt Ann and Aunt Monica all compared notes and discovered that no one had heard from my mysterious grandparents.

Please understand that it was very strange that they had not called us. It seems as though when they leave my house they call us assoon as they get home. Mind you, they live no more than fiveminutes away. My family must get at least six calls a day fromthem. They call to find out how we did in school. They call to see ifwe want to go to a game with them. They call to see if we want togo to the mall. Why didn’t they call to tell us that they had arrivedsafely in Gulf Shores? I couldn’t figure out why two mature people were acting so irresponsibly.

Anyway, not to my surprise, my mom and my aunts started freaking out. I must admit that I was very concerned, too. We sat and waitedfor the phone to ring. It had been over 24 hours that we had lastheard from the missing couple. Then my mom made theannouncement, “It’s time to call the police.”Soon after, Paw-Paw finally called us. But, not before the OrangeBeach Police were notified. Yes, you read right. My family had takenthe Orange Beach police officers off the street to track down two people who are fairly capable of caring for themselves.

It turned out that the ringer of the phone in the condo was broken.

They were waiting to call all of us at night when they were sure that we’d all be home.

Boy, was I relieved. I thought that something serious had happenedto them. You never realize how important people are until you thinkthat something has happened to them. I guess that we should alllearn to appreciate those around us while they’re around.

Oh, and if you take a trip out of state, call your family. Or, callmine! Right now, I think that I’ll call Paw-Paw and Mimi. I might askPaw-Paw if he wants to bring me to a baseball game. Or, I’ll askMimi if she feels like going to the mall. Or, maybe I’ll call just tosee how they’re doing, and tell them that I love them.

If you have any questions or comments, please write to straightkids@Juno.com or P.O. Box 1493, LaPlace, LA 70069.Back to Top

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