At every Stroebel family gathering, the cousins congregate around the aunts and uncles and parents to hear tales of Stroebel childhood. Here is one of the classic favorites.

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Clifford was the neighborhood bully.

Yes, Clifford.  That was his name.  No joke.

Fred, my dad's younger brother, never liked Clifford very well.  Now, all of the Stroebel boys were what you could call a bit over-inventive, constantly coming up with some new idea or scheme to try out.  So one day, after seeing an elephant trap on television, Uncle Fred decides he's going to build an elephant trap of his very own in the backyard.

Fred's elephant trap consisted of a knee-deep hole dug in the back yard, covered with sticks and leaves.  The trap sat unsprung for days, likely because no local critters wanted to venture out in the rain that came in the days to follow its creation.  The elephant trap turned into a muddy pit covered in a matted mess of leaves.

On a clear morning later that week, Clifford asked his mother if he could go visit the Stroebels.  His mother told him he could visit as long as he promised not to get dirty.  He was, after all, in his brand new white suit for the wedding they'd be going to that afternoon.

When Clifford arrived, an idea formed in the back of Fred's mind.  But no, it couldn't possibly work...  Still, Fred wasn't one to shy away from a challenge.  So he began to taunt Clifford.

Clifford bristled at Fred's taunts.  What a little fool, for picking on someone bigger and stronger and faster than him!  He'd have to teach the little punk a lesson.

When Clifford went after Fred, he took off running across the yard.  Off Fred went, taking a flying leap over a pile of brush and leaves.  Thinking nothing of it -- after all, everyone raked up their yard trash in piles and burned it -- Clifford barreled right over the pile.  What a magnificent scene it would make to send that pile of trash flying, with a line cut right through the middle where he had passed!

Leaves did indeed go flying -- just as Clifford disappeared into a hole.

There was a roar of laughter from the Stroebel boys as Clifford emerged, splattered head to toe in mud, his white suit gone brown.  When he got home, Clifford's mother swatted his butt and made him change clothes, furious that he was so soiled when she had so much to do before the wedding.

Fred never got picked on by Clifford again.