It was 1962 when Pablo and his family moved to the U.S. He was an only child, age 7 and the language barrier kept him from making friends. Pablo sat at his window, day after day, watching the children playing outside. Lynn felt sorry for him and knocked on his door one day before going home. Pablo invited her in and asked Lynn to play a game. Lynn thought that Pablo asked her to teach him a game. "Hot Buttered Beans Come to Supper" would be a good game for him, Lynn thought, because there were only a few words to say; except for teaching him how to play. (A thought just came to me as I am typing that charades would have been easier). Anyway, Lynn explained the best she could in words and body language.
"You, close your eyes. I will hide something. After the object was hidden Lynn yelled, Hot Buttered Beans Come To Supper! You, open your eyes. Find what is hidden. If not close I will say cold. If close I will say warm. If really close I will say hot."
Pablo began the hunt. He wasn't even close when he walked to the refrigerator and Lynn said cold...freezing! Pablo shut the refrigerator door, opened the freezer and handed her an ice cube with a big smile on his face. Gracias (the only word Lynn knew in Spanish), go hunt. This wasn't how the game was played but she didn't want to hurt his feelings.
He got closer to the hidden object and Lynn said warm. Pablo handed her a warm cookie that was cooling on a rack, baked by his mom. He was so happy and proud of himself. Gracias, said Lynn. Keep hunting. Pablo was so close to the object and Lynn yelled HOT! Pablo stood still, a tear rolled down his face and said, No, No...No hot buttered beans...stay to supper...please don't go. They became best friends and 14 years later Pablo and Lynn became husband and wife.