The Dining Room Tiger

Great grandfather John was a no nonsense man. He drove trains, he hunted wounded or threatening Bengal tigers, and raised sons who would become some of the best marksmen in India. Of course, he hilariously exasperated my great grandmother’s patience, which leads us to the first great family tale.

Dad was always unclear on whether it was a kill required because the tiger was injured or not, nevertheless it didn’t stop my great grandfather from having the bearers bring it back to the house and place it lengthwise on my great grandmother’s dinning room table.

My great grandfather’s contention was that the tiger should be placed in the dining room because having been measured it was a quarter of an inch off the largest Bengal tiger ever shot. Great grandmother was, of course, having none of it.

“John,” she said, “get that thing out of my dining room!” Great grandfather replied “but Ducky, it’s almost a record!”

You can obviously guess who won that argument.

I’m not sure how old my father, uncle, and aunt were when it happened. But my father’s story of it remains with me. And then there’s the glass door incident. I’ll get to that later.