Who did this?!?

Growing up in my house it was not uncommon to encounter unclaimed messes. It was also not uncommon for my father to try to seek out the source. My dad has always been a man of few words and is generally mild mannered; however a bag of chips hidden under the couch in haste would bring out the tyrant in him! I can still remember his booming voice seemingly coming from outer space, "WHO DID THIS??" My mother, upon hearing dad trying to flush out the perpetrator, would roll her eyes. My brothers and I had an unspoken rule - we never sold each other out. We learned to simply look at the floor and wait it out. To my horror I find myself playing the part of Mess Detective. "Who did this? Who would do this?" It dawned on me today while on the phone with Shanna that no one is going to confess under those conditions! Serioulsy, who in their right mind is going to admit that they were responsible for stuffing chewed up sucker sticks in between the cushions of the sofa to a woman whose veins are bulging from her forehead? Do I really want to know why the bathroom counter is blue or there are three towels in a bathtub full of water? I was talking with Dad on the phone last week and I confessed that I used to think he and mom looked downright looney. My mother, on occasion, looked as though one more finger-poke on the shoulder might just send her running from the house. I remember thinking that Dad just needed to loosen up at the dinner table - what was the problem with me and my brother cackling like mad people while our youngest brother sculpted his food?? I went on to offer up to my dad that I got it. I got the haggard expressions and bloodshot eyes. I understand now because I am living it. "I'm sorry we drove you guys so nuts sometimes Dad. You and mom must have wanted to strangle us!" I offered. Dad chuckled. "What? You kids were great - we had a great time with you all!" Yeah, that's the truth of it. The kids are great. Now I'm going to go remind them of that fact.