My dad was mild mannered. My mother, on the other hand, was a true example of a red head and a redhead's anger. She was 4'11' tall, oldest of four girls, worked side by side with my dad in our grocery store, kept a neat house and any infraction by myself or two older brothers was met with the meanest, tightest snap of a damp dish towel as we tried to get away from her. I think I would have preferred a swat with a strop 'cause that towel really did sting for a good time after each snap.