A Day With Dad And Uncle Tom By Sheila Robins 11yo 63 ((better)) May 2026

To understand Sheila’s story, one must look at the world in 1963. It was a year of profound change—the height of the Space Race, the rise of the Beatles, and a world teetering between traditional values and a new, modern identity. Yet, for an 11-year-old girl, the "Great World" mattered far less than the immediate world of her family.

Then we got hungry. Uncle Tom said, “Let’s get the worst food for you.” So we went to a gas station and bought stale donuts and bright blue slushies. Dad pretended to be mad, but he bought a slushie too. Mine was blue, Dad’s was red, and Uncle Tom mixed his together to make purple. He said it was “genius flavor.” a day with dad and uncle tom by sheila robins 11yo 63

By the time we got outside, the air smelled like damp grass and gasoline. Uncle Tom was leaning against the fender of his old Ford, nursing a thermos of coffee. He gave me a big wink and a "Morning, Little Bird!" Uncle Tom isn’t really my uncle—he was in the service with Dad—but he’s family anyway. He always smells like peppermint and tobacco. To understand Sheila’s story, one must look at

Furthermore, the story offers a poignant commentary on family structures. Today, “a day with Dad and Uncle Tom” might sound old-fashioned—perhaps even politically charged (due to the famous memoir Uncle Tom’s Cabin ). But in 1963, “Uncle Tom” was simply a common name. Sheila’s choice reflects the un-self-conscious naming conventions of her era. Then we got hungry

We stopped at Miller’s Bait & Tackle. The air inside was thick with the smell of damp sawdust and peppermint candy. Dad bought me a Nehi grape soda and a pack of crackers, while Uncle Tom argued with Mr. Miller about which lures the bass were biting on this week.