MY First Sewing Machine

When I was 12 years old, My dad's factory went on a very
long strike. With a houseful to feed he found work for the township running the landfill.
Now it wasn't like today. People brought in their junk,
garbage, wood and anything they did not want.
Everything was sorted and anything of value, and there was a lot,  was set in a shed to be resorted. The metals were taken to a local metal yard for the cash.
Dad was always bringing home some really neat stuff like
unused still tagged clothes and toys in the box. Antiques Or pretty dishes. It didn't matter if they matched, we hardly ever could keep any matched for long.

One day He came home carting an old Singer Sewing Machine, Just like the one above. Mom asked him why he bothered and He told her it run good and if she didn't want a spare he would just cart it to the auction with they other "don't wants". I jumped up and begged for it. And to my surprise he gave it to me and said" have fun little       one".
Well, I did. I made several wrap around skirts (really in then) and a pile of pot holders. Then I got this bright idea I would do something special for mom and dad. Mom was always working on quilts and she never made them for herself. She sewed for family, the poor , the sick and missionaries.
We had a pile of material thanks to Dad's fill in job . so I set to work. Secretly sewing a few squares each night. I was so smug and pleased with my self!
On thanksgiving day everyone was sleeping, in front of the ole black and white box or off somewhere ;so I quietly snuck into my room to add more squares. I was just getting in the middle of a new row when all of a sudden I heard an terrible hissing sound and smoke began to curl from the motor!
I ran and opened the large cottage window in my room and began to fan the room. I grabbed the ole Singer and tossed it out the open window.
I was crushed. Here I was trying to do something nice and I ended up with a smoky, unfinished mess!
I did finally finish what I could of the quilt, it was puckered on one side and not anywhere as big as I wanted but It was all I had to give them for Christmas.
Mom and Dad oowed and Aaahed over my  pathetic attempt and even put it on the foot of their bed. I was shocked to see Dad snuggled up under it a few months later while taking his Sunday afternoon nap.
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