Oh I did mean gray! br That’s what I meant to say. br Because for many years on the Saturday br Preceding Easter Sunday we used to play br at coloring hardboiled eggs to display next day br br There were seven of us there br Five handsome boys two girls with long hair br We selected each egg handling it with care br Then marked them with wax so to prepare br For dipping into the color dyes gathered there br br We all had favorites, (mine was blue) br Some liked red, green or yellow hue br We often mixed them for effect too br But none quite the way brother Tom would do br br Tom always tried to make a unique one br Often he kept at it after his siblings were done br (We having moved on looking for other fun) br Tom kept working as though there were a prize to be won br br While the rest of us had colored quite a few br Tom seemed to think that just one egg would do br If he could only master the dyes before he was through br He was certain he could invent his own unique hue br br Yet, no matter how long he worked away br The result was always the same at the end of day br That Easter egg invariably ended up colored gray! br br On Easter Sunday we woke to see br Our eggs displayed in a bowl so carefully br Mom and Dad always laughed with glee br Because there on the top of the heap would be br The glorious gray egg contributed by Tommy br br So though the Seuss family we were not br We sure had fun and we laughed a lot br Gray eggs and ham is what we always got! br br br Reader’s note: Most sadly my brother Tom passed away March 2006. He was the fourth child in our set of seven and occupied that center spot in our hearts and so many other ways. Tommy we miss you, love you, and remember you always.