The "Surprise" Couch

Dad loved surprises. Will any of us ever forget the time the family gave Mother the "surprise" couch for Christmas? The elaborate plans to keep Mom from seeing it--Long's Furniture had to deliver it a weekend early before the holiday--and spoiling the surprise. We kept it in the hallway, so Mom was not allowed in any of the bedrooms other than her own. It wasn't until years later that we learned she had helped Dad pick it out before he ever took us down to "select" one!


taken from "Memories of Dad--James Vernon Mcgrath" by Afton McGrath Miner