It was a different day then. We were raised old school, kids were punished for being out of line. Corporal punishment was applied when the offense was severe enough. My mom was way ahead of her time. She applied roughly the same grading system used by the criminal justice systems in most states for felonies. The worst punishment was reserved for the person who actually committed the transgression. Because we were a family of 5 kids, she also recognized different levels of transgressions. People who were there while it was happening but did not actually do it (aiding and abetting). People who assisted the person doing it but where not there when it happened (accessory before the fact). And finally people who tried to help cover up it up after the fact (accessory after the fact). Punishment was handed out depending on what category you fell into.
So when we broke that sliding glass window we were thinking we had were in the top two categories. Both of these fell into the category where corporal punishment was expected. Waiting for the punishment was far worse than the actual corporal punishment itself.
We were both sent a room that we shared with our younger brother and told to lay facing the wall. It was pure agony listening the the muffled voices of my mom and dad. You could never make out what they said. To make matters worse we had hardwood floors and you could hear each step that move away and towards you.
In every single person, there is a driving need to have the last word. It is worse when you believe that you are either in the right or have been wronged. The last word creates more havoc and hell that almost anything else in life. It is the one thing that cause a completely manageable situation to descend into chaos. The need to have the last word will not only keep a situation from getting way worse but it will cost you far more than you can recognize right then. It just absolutely blinds people.
So, my mom and dads voice faded away and after about 30 minutes (5 days in kid time) we start to realize that we have escaped any corporal punishment. Its then that I decide to roll over and tell my older brother was an asshole he was and how stupid he was. He rolls over and tells me what a girl I am. We are laying on single beds, feet apart saying every bad thing we can to each other.
My dad's voice comes booming down the hallway telling us we better not push our luck and be very quiet.
The last word came from me. I said the worst thing I could think of , I rolled over and called my brother a F*CKER. He was stunned, back then it really was the worst thing you could say. There is no equivalent word today. He starts giggling and then I start giggling.
Neither one of us heard dad coming down the hallway, I just remember him standing there when I opened my eyes. We were not spared corporal punishment the second time around. In fact we got the original along with new one.
The need to have the last word is a handicap that most people have. Strong willed people are the worst. So if you find yourself up to your neck in shit, unable to get to safety or sanity because you JUST HAVE TO say one more thing. STOP IT...simply get out of the shit pool and leave with whatever dignity you can muster. You can make it worse and in most cases depending on the passions involved you can make it way worse. Having the moral high ground does not make you less stupid here. One of the first casualties of last word syndrome is your dignity and credibility. Nothing entertains people quite as much as seeing people throw away hard earned credibility and dignity. Never be the floor show.
Also if you see someone with last word blinders on, help them as much as you can without getting into the shit pool with them.
Love Dad
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