On kittens and Crackers

11.01.2007

This is a true story about my grandfather as told by a friend of the family:

Dr. Ramsey O'Neal was a leading physician in Hattiesburg for many years. His son Kelly, a local OB/GYN, told me this Halloween story about his dad. Many years ago, when Kelly was a child, Dr. O'Neal was left to hand out Halloween candy while his wife and daughter were at a church function. The O'Neal's lived in a safe neighborhood with sidewalks and on Halloween it was full of children. Never having handed out candy before, Dr. O'Neal did not know the "drill" so when kids would come to the door he would let them put their hands in the bowl and get all the candy they wanted. Not long into the evening he ran out of candy so went to the kitchen to see what else he could give away. In no time he had given away all the fruit, cookies, and graham crackers in the house. Next he went through his pocket change. Kids were still coming and he was out of options. He then remembered the six kittens in a box in the back of the house. Yes, he dropped a kitten in each of the next six bags opened before him! Some were handed back to him, but four managed to make it out of his yard (can you imagine the looks on the parents faces when the child got home with a cat in their trick or treat bag). Kelly said the when Mrs. O'Neal got home she was so angry at her husband (she had already promised the kittens to several friends) that she didn't speak to him for several days! And that, my friends, is a true story!!!! Have a Happy Halloween. Babs