"Office" was the favorite past-time of Maren, Hannah and me in our younger years. I have vivid memories of TV trays in front of each of us organized with old telephones, forms and sample credit cards brought home from Dad's sorting at the telephone office. Filling out receipts, answering phones, creating letterhead... Business was always booming.
The most notable businesses included Odds & Ends Around the Bend (Maren), Pleats in the Porch (Hannah) and Super Heny's Cleaning Supplies (Elsa, though Hannah had a hand in creating the marvelous radio ad).
I was reminded of our creative play the other day when Hannah opened a drawer in our old Singer sewing machine to find order slips and receipts from the glory days of Pleats in the Porch.
This business came about after we discovered the ability to make perforated paper using a threadless sewing machine. This was just what was needed for perfect receipts and order slips.
Violet (aka Hannah) was a very talented seamstress it appeared. She sewed anything from sailor dresses to tents. Swimsuits and aprons seemed to be specialties.
Maren and I rolled in laughter as we inspected Hannah's meticulous attention to detail in writing out her orders - sizes, materials, phone numbers.
When Maren asked what I did while Hannah was busy writing down her customer's orders (The two of us were never far apart in those days. Some things don't change.), Hannah replied, "Elsa was pedaling the sewing machine for all she was worth and taking breaks on the day bed to play with kittens.
Ah, yes! Those were the good old days.
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