Leave it to Beaver

June Cleaver was busy in the kitchen cheerfully preparing a supper of meatloaf, canned corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, chocolate cake, and red jello with bananas and marshmallows. She unfolded the freshly pressed red plaid table cloth and lifted it high into the air. Shaking it perfectly, the table cloth landed squarely on the family dinner table. She smoothed out the few renegade wrinkles, then started setting the table with the dishes she got from trading in her 25 books of green stamps.

Someone knocked at the back door.

June took a quick glance at her reflection in the oven glass, touched up her hair here and there, and opened the door.

"Good evening, Mrs. Cleaver", greeted Eddie Haskell.

"Well, hello Eddie!" June replied.

"You look lovely today, Mrs. Cleaver. What a beautiful apron you are wearing, a gift from Mr. Cleaver?" Eddie asked.

"Why, thank you Eddie, no the A&P had a sale one day and since Ward had used my last apron to clean up the old lawn mower I thought I would buy one."

"Well, Mrs. Cleaver, I came buy to pick up Wally and Theodore, are they home?" Eddie asked.

"What are you boys up to Eddie?" inquired June, curiously.

"Oh, well Mrs. Cleaver, we are heading over to the concealed weapons class at the gun shop. You know, Mrs. Cleaver, they changed the law just last week allowing anyone to carry a concealed weapon regardless of age, so we thought we'd go get one! All the fellas are doing it."

"Oh Wally, what a wonderful idea! You never know when someone might try to steal your bike these days. Ward will be so excited to hear this when he gets home. Oh, I think I hear the boys now. WALLY, BEAVER, EDDIE'S HERE!"

Sounding like a herd of buffalo, the boys thundered down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Hey Eddie," said Wally.

"Hi Eddie!" beamed the Beaver.

"Are you fellas ready to go or what," said Eddie impatiently. Quickly gaining his composure, he once again feigned politeness and put a smile on his face.

"Have a wonderful evening Mrs. Cleaver. And please tell Mr. Cleaver I said hello."

"I will, thank you Eddie. You boys be good and be home by 6:00. Here take something to tide you over until supper," she said, as she pulled out a half dozen chocolate chip cookies from the porcelain cookie jar.

"Bye mom!" shouted the Beaver.

"Goodbye boys," said June. The boys darted out the backdoor, hopped on their bikes, and sped off down down Pine Street toward the gun shop. June shook her head and smiled. Her boys were growing up so fast.

Ward and June explaining "Stand Your Ground" to the Beaver.