Afternoons at Red and Darla’s
Afternoons at Red and Darla’s: Childhood Memories and Pet Companions
When I was 9, I would spend my afternoons at Red and Darla’s house while my parents were at work.
Red was a large man with a shock of red hair and a deep, rumbling barrel laugh that I loved.
His wife, Darla, a sweet and feisty woman in her fifties with dark brown hair and thick glasses, ran child care out of their home, looking after me, five boys, and two girls until our parents came for us.
The Chihuahuas’ Personalities: A Pack Full of Character
Darla owned four chihuahuas, each with a personality all their own.
Chico was a siesta-then-fiesta kind of grey dog.
Chili, brown and white, had a “talk to the hand” attitude until he warmed up to you—then he was all “give me pets.”
Sofie, a prim and proper white lady, would lounge on your lap and observe everything.
Speedy, the black and white hyper one, was always shaking, fidgeting, and adjusting where he laid down, starting conversations with a low, chatty growl that rose and fell as he opened and closed his mouth.
Managing the Chaos: Keeping Kids and Pets Happy
Those dogs adored Darla, trailing her everywhere like loyal minions. But when she needed to manage both kids and dogs, she cleverly kept us apart—using a baby gate across the basement entrance inside, and a dog run outside.
The dogs dined in style: steak and rice for dinner. Meanwhile, we happily ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or mac and cheese. No one complained.
A Home Full of Fun: Playtime, Gardening, and Lessons
Darla filled the backyard play area with Tonka trucks and the basement with GI Joes and Barbies. She baked tart and tasty rhubarb pies straight from her garden, and we often helped her and Red tend the plants, learning how to grow vegetables along the way.
Make no mistake—Darla ruled the house. She wasn’t shy about enforcing “time out” or taking away TV privileges when needed.
Red loved Darla deeply but there were times when would jump in to tell stories or take us to the park playground when we needed a change of scenery and to keep us out of trouble.
The Birds: Jabber and Jester, Feathered Friends with Personality
Darla also loved birds and kept two talkative ones in the living room: Jabber, a black mynah bird with a yellow beak and legs, and Jester, a wise-guy African grey parrot. Red had once owned a parrot like Jester when he lived in Africa.
The Salesman Incident: A Pet-Filled Comedy
One day, while we kids were penned in the basement for nap time, a salesman knocked on the door. Darla let him in, and he began his sales pitch, showing her various goods. Red, coming in from the garden, entered the house with the dogs.
The pack rounded the corner, barking furiously, scaring the salesman. “What the heck?!” he exclaimed, hastily packing up his wares and fleeing the house.
We all knew those dogs were all bark and no bite, but Red laughingly called them “gangsters,” which made everyone laugh—except for Jester, who added, “What the heck, Red!” sending us all into tears.
A House Full of Adventure: Celebrating Pets and Family Moments
Just goes to show—the bigger the family, the more adventure.
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