The Shadow
Dear Editor,
Last Saturday, I turned to Margo Oxendine’s column to claim my two, or more chuckles usually waiting each time her column appears. I was not disappointed.
This time, the primary subject was nightwear, reportedly worn by a lady wearing a pink nightgown, and being sought by the local police — all up in Bath County.
No details were given, and by this writing, I trust that all has been settled — preferably to everyone’s satisfaction. Not necessarily!
But a nighttime search for someone in their “jammies” reminded me of the little sentence story found in the Good Book, only in St. Mark, Chapter 14. I quote: “A young man wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.”
And that’s it. We don’t know his name or anything else about him. There are no churches, or towns named after him — nothing!
I think this episode attracts my attention, primarily because as I read it, I am thinking something to myself, “Man, here’s someone dumber than I am.” (That thought does cheer each of us up a bit — even though we don’t like to admit it!)
I have always assumed his pajamas were what we now call a “poncho.” A rectangular piece of cloth with a hole cut out for the head, and two holes cut out for the arms. If a person grabbed hold of this garment, the wearer could throw out his arms, lurch back, and vacate the whole thing.
Is the word “ironic” the one I need to describe this scene? One of the greatest events of humankind is going on, and there is this doofus dancing around in his birthday suit! Really, I fear that the lady in Bath County at nighttime just can’t match it!
Sorry Bath Countians, but as Margo says about everything, “Life — you gotta love it!”
Sincerely,
Frank Williamson
Dressler Drive
Covington
