Page 67 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Chapter Ten

mother’s truck, contorting and moulding my face into the very
essence of Mrs. Thomas.
“Oh, it’s so good to see you, my dear,” I chirped in my
veddy best British accent. “It’s so good to see you. Do come in,
so good to see you. Every time I see you, you’re looking more
like your mum … yes, so much more like your mum.”
My mother was highly amused. Her laugh said it all. Oh,
how I loved making her laugh! I felt loved. I felt special. She
approved!
That laugh launched a host of comedic characters that I
created over the years. That approval was the drug I didn’t even
know I needed but once tasted, I was hooked for life! There
was so much joy in making my mother laugh and the magic
and mystery of transforming myself into a fictitious character
was even better!
Once I started school, I had plenty of teachers to imitate
and that was another good source of amusement. Thank
goodness none of them ever caught me pulling faces while in
their presence.
As a child I literally spent hours in front of the mirrors
wherever we lived. I especially loved the full-length ones.
“You’d better stop making all those god-awful faces,” my
mother warned me. “Because one day you’re going to stay that
way!”
My first cousins on my father’s side, Glenda Ray and Gerry,
influenced me profoundly with their singing, tap-dancing,
piano, organ and banjo playing. They were extremely talented
and their mother, my Aunt Violet, was a wonderful stage mom
and coach. They performed around the Calgary area, even at
the world-renowned Calgary Stampede. To me they were
very famous. I loved visiting their home and listening to the
incredible sounds pouring out from the instruments. The near

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