Remember that movie "A Christmas Story" and "Ralphie" Parker?
Well, growing up, I think we all experienced a "Ralphie" moment using a naughty word and getting caught dead to rights blurting it out. Whether it was an innocent slip or out of anger.
Mine was just like in the movie. The mother of all naughty words. The F dash dash dash word.
Back in the 50's this was an offence punishable by time on the rack if only the F dash was uttered. This was called vile intent punishment.
If the entire word was spoken, OMG, The Last Rights were normally given as the scourging whips were lined up for the mandatory 40 lashes.
Now my "Ralphie" moment came when I thought I was all by myself, outside and a good 50 feet from the house inside the woods. I fell and banged up my knee and let out an "Ah F dash dash dash !". The deliver was very clear, very concise, a bit of southern accent, but heard from several hundred yards. Here in was my problem. As I heard several gasps from none other than , my mom, dad, both brothers, my dads parents, and at least two sets of neighbors. My fate was sealed, I just needed to find the shovel and a nice spot to dig my grave.
My little brother was cry, "Daddy, please don't kill him!" I came up and was looking around and my mom asked me what I was doing? I told her I figured with as badly as I'd messed that up that J. Edger Hoover, The Pope, and Santa Claus had been there and heard it also. My neighbors were all laughing their ass's off by this time. My dad wasn't......got my britches dusted good that time.....lmao