At the Opera

Back when I was a teen-ager an elderly bachelor cousin invited me to attend the opera with him one afternoon. As we weren’t especially close, I was a bit surprised, but my mother thought it would be a nice thing to do, and I was free, so off we went. Upon our arrival at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, we found our seats and I prepared to sink back and enjoy the music. First, however, I got out my comb to attend to the long, blonde, curly hair which I had at the time. After sufficient primping, I put the comb back in my purse. As the lights dimmed my cousin leaned over and said these words – which I have never forgotten, even 70 years later – And did you remember to bring your toothbrush also?