My moms’ trick:

Picks a dandelion gone to seed – one with a long stem.

“Hold it in your teeth, like this.”

(Demonstrates, hands it to you.)

You hold it in your teeth.

“Make a wish!” they say as they YANK IT from the non-flowering end, leaving the ENTIRE PUFF in your mouth.

They laugh and laugh.

You sputter.

You are so mad.

You start looking around for someone to try it on…

Later: “You only fall for it once.”

True.

Now you will appreciate the “NICOLE MARIE!” that reverberated throughout the entire house when they discovered that I had stitched their paperback books shut. The pride in their tone was unmistakable.

I sure miss them.