Me, A Friend, Taffy and My Mother

By Pam Barker

As previously mentioned, although my Mother preferred to do the cooking herself, she was very accommodating, as a rule, when it came to special requests I made in my youth.

One Friday night when I was about 11, a friend and I were having a sleepover at my house. Listening to records, gossiping and playing games can only be so entertaining. How fun would it be to make taffy and pull-it? A TAFFY-PULL! Yes.

Now, my Mother had her own busy schedule, yet she did make it happen for my friend and I. Transforming sugar, corn syrup, cornstarch, water and butter into a sticky delight with the intention of it being pulled into candy. She had wrappers and the works, but this had to have been the least rewarding thing for her to do on a Friday night. Until this moment when I checked, I never even knew the ingredients for taffy. 

As you find out as a pre-teen, things sounding fun and actually BEING fun can be vastly different. Such was the case, as this adventure was less than fun and after a few taffy candies were wrapped up, we bailed on it. I suspect my Mother, who was on duty to oversee girls with hands (protected) all into hot sugar, swiftly disposed of the...hot mess. I suspect, SHE suspected this would be the outcome from the very beginning.

Sidenote: I have not enjoyed taffy for most of my adult life. Did it start on that Friday night? Could be.

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