Dale
Biography
Was in bed with Virginia when the frightened narrator joined them after seeing The Wizard of Oz. According to Virginia McFarland, came over and shot Fluffy after Daddy could not do it. One of the McFarlands, the family's next-door neighbors and closest friends. Mentioned in identifying Jesse McFarland as Dale's brother.
Timeline
1952
The McFarlands moved into town
Carol was about fourteen. The town is not named.
Carol's Chapter1994
Dale passed away
Dale was Virginia's husband.
Carol's ChapterWhen the narrator was about six or seven
A frightening first memory of The Wizard of Oz
Virginia drove the children to the movie. Frightened by the Wicked Witch, the narrator later slept between Virginia and Dale.
Dee's Chapterdate not given
Fluffy's disappearance and the later account of his death
Mom said Fluffy went into the woods to die of sickness and old age. Years later Virginia said he had distemper and Dale shot him after Daddy could not.
Carol's Chapter
Stories mentioning Dale
- Jacks, Paper Dolls, and a Childhood Full of ImaginationDee remembers a happy childhood despite wartime film shortages and few toys. She recalls punishment for peeling airplane wallpaper, fear after The Wizard of Oz, Virginia’s ketchup prank, and endless games with Pat and neighborhood children. Paper dolls from Iris comforted her during an ear operation. Bicycle rides, a clubhouse, swings, and imaginative play filled the days, although large dogs frightened her and Hannah’s dog once bit her.
- Remembering Fluffy, the Family's White CatCarol remembers Fluffy as a big, fluffy white cat and the only family pet she recalled apart from Daddy's later canaries. Mom said the old, sick cat went into the woods to die. Years later Virginia McFarland told Carol that Fluffy had distemper: Daddy could not bring himself to shoot him, so Dale did. Virginia also recalled sharing coffee with Mom and hearing Fluffy using the children's potty-chair.
- Next-Door Friends and a Lifetime of KindnessCarol remembers the McFarlands as next-door neighbors and closest friends. She played daily with Marilyn and Patty and attended school with them through high school. Virginia and Carol's mother supported each other through hard times over coffee and cigarettes. Despite working outside the home, Virginia helped with housework, ironing, babysitting, and overnight stays, once washing the girls' hair outdoors with collected rainwater. The two women were charter members of a 500 Card Club founded in 1948 and belonged for over forty years. The McFarlands moved into town in 1952, and Pat later moved away when she married. Carol and Marilyn remained close. Carol recalls the losses of Dale in 1994, Virginia in 1996, and Marilyn's husband Bill in March 1998.
- A Lifetime of Gratitude for Hard Work and Equal LoveBernard sent his parents money every payday and found motivation in making them proud through advertising honors and promotions. He recalls his mother's exhausting work as the children's needs grew, and Jesse McFarland's praise of her as a saint and an exceptionally hard worker. The children wished Jesse would marry Iris. Bernard acknowledges taking Dad's work for granted and honors Mom's honesty, neutrality, and equal love, regretting that he never fully told her what those lessons meant.
Referenced in
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