The Ballestero Blog

The Day Brother Buddy And Sister Bobbie Had A Fight!

Brother Buddy wanted me to know. He was embarrassed by what he had done, but enough years had passed that he felt comfortable telling me about his moment of shame.

He sat in the back of his 16ft ‘Deep V’ aluminum fishing boat. His advanced age only allowed him so many outdoor pleasures. Bro. Buddy excelled as a fisherman. The main reason I was in the boat with him, I wanted to see how he caught so many fish. He always seemed to catch them left and right.

Sis. Bobbie had passed away quite a few years ago and Bro. Buddy, now almost 80 years old, lived only to fish and to go to church.

He pondered about how to begin his confession of sins. Presently, he decided on the appropriate avenue and began.

“Bobbie and me never had a lot of arguments. She was a very good wife and mother. I did my best to provide for her. I loved her. She loved me.

“One day back in the fifties, Bobbie told me that she wanted a new wash machine. I couldn’t believe it! The one we had worked just fine.

“I asked her what was wrong with the one we had, and she said, ’Nothing.’

“Well, if nothing is wrong with the one we have then why do we need a new one?”

“The one we have,” she said, “is old. It works fine but it’s old. The new ones have more wash options on them for different types of clothes, and I want us to get one.”

“I told her no. We don’t need it. It’s a waste of money.”

Sis. Bobbie said, “Buddy, the kids are grown. The house and car are paid for, we have the money in the bank to pay cash for it, and I want us to buy a new one.”

“I said, No.”

“She said, Yes.”

“I said, No.”

“She said, Yes.”

“Well pastor,” Bro. Buddy said, “I got so mad at her I took my fist and punched a hole through the sheet rock in the living room.

“While I was trying to pull my hand out of the wall, the telephone rang. Bobbie answered the phone. It was Sis. Jones. You know, Sis. Ray Jones? She was the former pastor’s wife.

“She told my wife that she needed to talk to her about some Ladies Auxiliary project.”

“Bobbie said, ‘come right on over.’

“Well, I was in a rush trying to figure out a way to cover that big hole in the wall. Sis. Jones only lived 5 minutes away, so I had to hurry.

“I looked in the hall closet and found one of those hand stitched word pictures. I grabbed a nail and a hammer and covered the hole with the picture. I was just finishing up when Sis. Jones knocked on the front door.

“Bobbie invited her in and as they came by the area where the new picture hung, Bobbie said, ‘How do you like our new picture?’

“She swung the picture to one side and showed Sis. Jones the big hole behind the picture.

“Buddy and me had a fight. He got mad and punched a hole in the wall with his fist and tried to cover up what he did with this picture.

“Bro. Ballestero, I was so ashamed.”

I smiled as my mind played the little story and I tried to imagine the moment he described. I couldn’t see this kindly old man being that upset. Curiosity got the best of me.

“ What did the sign say?” I asked.

That’s when he really got that sheepish look on his wrinkled old face. He lowered his head and mumbled.

“What?” I asked, “I couldn’t hear you.”

“Christ Is The Head Of This House.” He said.

I laughed till I cried.