“This is the first year we haven’t spent at least part of the day with family, though I guess I am since Will is going with us. I was so surprised when Father and Mother announced last Sunday that they were traveling to Hot Springs, Arkansas so Father can take the waters. Weren’t you? And so soon. They tell us on Sunday and leave on Friday. I couldn’t believe Vernon didn’t say anything to me at all about it. You’d have thought he’d let me know. I think he knows I’m peeved at him. He hasn’t called or dropped by all week. Do you think he’ll not come today? He must know I’m upset with him for not telling me. I’d hate for him to stand me up. That would ruin my day completely.”
Lillian opened her mouth to say more as Pearl caught up with her, but Pearl placed her fingers on her friend’s lips. “Shhh. I know you were upset with your parents’ decision to travel, but Vernon couldn’t say anything about it if he knew: physician-patient confidentiality.” She dropped her hand. “I’m pretty sure he never gave how you would feel a single thought. Men don’t think the way we do.”
“I’m sure you are right.” Lillian stepped to the mirror hanging on the wall, pulled the pin from her hat and inserted it again. “I don’t want to lose this hat. The egret feathers were very— well, let’s just say, Mother would have her own apoplectic fit if she knew what I spent on them. The milliner wanted to put the entire bird on the crown, but I don’t want a dead bird on my head. It does go well with my dress, don’t you think? I’m so glad Mr. Dimmick made me purchase the dress fabric. This new style is so much more practical. I don’t need as many petticoats. That it only goes down to the ankle instead of the floor is so much nicer, too. Much better to show off one’s shoes.” She stepped away, allowing Pearl to check herself in the mirror.
“Thank you, Lillian, for remaking my dress. There’s no way I could have made the adjustments you did to bring the style up to date.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for the gloves. You didn’t need to make them for me.” Lillian pulled the gloves on then placed her finger on a pleat in Pearl’s bodice. “I’ll be able to let these tucks out when you begin to show.”
Both ladies were in white, which was in fashion for the summer months. Lillian’s straw hat was new with stylish plumes. Pearl’s was decorated with a spray of lace she’d made.
The shop door opened admitting Will and Vernon. Dapper looking in their linen suits and straw hats, both men wore wide smiles.
“Greetings, ladies. You both look lovely, today,” Will said.
Pearl couldn’t resist. “Inferring we do not always look lovely, so it must be noted?”
Will’s face turned bright red. He stammered and looked at Pearl, then shifted his gaze to Vernon and Lillian.
Stepping past him, Lillian patted Will on the chest. “Don’t worry, brother. She’s teasing you. Your compliment was lovely in itself. Thank you.”
“Yes, Will,” Pearl touched his arm. “It was. Thank you.”
“So,” Vernon began, “are we ready to go to the Park?”
“It will be a while for the trolley to come by.” Lillian looked at the large clock on the wall. “Wait. You shouldn’t be here yet. The trolley won’t be by for another twenty minutes.”
Vernon grinned. “We aren’t going by trolley. I took delivery of my motorcar this week. It’s a touring car so will hold all four of us.”
“You bought a motorcar?” Lillian squealed. “Where is it? Can I drive?” She raced to the door and threw it open, heading out to the street. By the time the rest exited the building, and Will locked the door, Lillian was seated behind the wheel. “Crank it on, Vernon.”
The doctor stood next to the vehicle with his hands on his hips. “I don’t think so, Lillian. It’s harder than it looks to drive. I’m still learning myself and don’t feel confident to teach you.”
“Besides,” Will mumbled to Pearl. “It’s brand new. She’s liable to crash it. I doubt Vernon wants that to happen.”
Pearl grinned and nodded. She couldn’t take her eyes off the motorcar. A Ford Model T Touring Car, it was deep green with two black leather upholstered seats. The roof was folded down behind the rear seat. Brass lanterns sat just below the windshield, and more brass trimmed the covering of the motor.
“I’ve never ridden in a motorcar,” Pearl said. She flashed a broad smile at Vernon and Will. “How do I get in?”
“This way, m’lady.” Will turned a handle and opened the door to the rear seat. “Allow me to help you alight.”
She smiled at him and extended her hand. Pearl glanced at Vernon once she was seated. He was arguing with Lillian, trying to get her to slide to the right so he could sit behind the wheel. When she finally moved he jumped in. Will was standing in front of the car. He bent over and cranked the handle. The motor sputtered, coughed, and then began to run. Will ran around to climb in next to Pearl.
“Is everyone ready?” Vernon asked.
“Go!” Lillian said.
He shifted the gear and they pulled away from the curb. As excited as she was to ride in the horseless carriage, Pearl clutched the side of the car with one hand and gripped Will’s with the other.
~~~~~
The six miles they traveled to Lake Contrary seemed to fly by and drag at the same time for Pearl. Although she’d ridden on trains, she’d never gone so fast out in the open before. The buildings, then the houses and landscapes passed by in nearly a blur. Her grip on the door and Will’s hand tightened each time they went around a corner. What if the motorcar fell over? They were going so fast.
Vernon drove onto the grass and stopped. The engine quit, and he turned in his seat so he could look in the rear seat and see Lillian too.
“So, what do you think? Did you enjoy the ride?” Vernon asked.
“It was dilly.” Lillian was beaming her delight. “When are you going to let me drive?”
“Not any time soon,” was Vernon’s reply. “Come on. Let’s go have some more fun.” Vernon jumped out of the car and ran around to assist Lillian down while Will did the same for Pearl.
“I’ve never been to Lake Contrary Amusement Park,” Pearl said, as Will tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. “Lillian told me about it. It sounds like you have pleasant memories of coming here as a child.”
“Not to the amusement park, as that’s a recent addition. The area has been used for recreation for a long while though. We came here some for bathing in the lake and picnicking.” Will pointed to their right. “The horse racing track has been here the longest. The grandstand was built about ten years ago. Father and I came here on occasion. Mother didn’t approve, but we came anyway. She’d give us stern looks when we got home but never made a large issue of it. Father didn’t gamble on the horses. We just liked watching them race.”
“Oh, look,” Lillian exclaimed. “I can see the Shoot the Chutes ride. I do so want to do that. It’s new, just opening this year. Let’s do that first.” She tugged on Vernon’s arm wanting him to move faster.
The roof of the ride was just visible over the trees. When they reached the midway, they could see many of the offerings of the park. To their left was a building advertising lunch and ice cream. Further on was a building housing a penny arcade, various concessions, and a pool hall. Bisecting the midway was a long lagoon. At the far end was a tall incline. A foot bridge crossed just where the incline met the water. It was crowded with spectators.
Just then, a sled shot down the incline and splashed into the water. Squeals, shrieks, and laughter could be heard as they approached the end of the lagoon.
“Oh, I so want to do that. Can we go now?” Lillian was fairly jumping in her excitement.
Pearl smiled but eyed the ride with suspicion. Will must have noted her wariness.
“How about we stroll some more and see what else is here? Look.” He pointed right. “There’s the Merry-Go-Round. I heard all the animals have real horse-hair tails.”
They wandered toward the octagonal structure. Vernon veered to a small booth, turning Lillian
over to her brother. “I’ll be right back.”
He rejoined them as they stood watching the carousel go around. “I can’t believe they had these. They are new, only a couple years old. I’ve read about them. These candies are taking the country by storm.” He passed out small wrapped nuggets.
Pearl looked at the paper. “Tootsie Roll.” She unwrapped the candy and found a small dark brown cylinder. Taking a bite, she smiled. “Oh my, that is so good. Chocolate,” she exclaimed, not caring that she was speaking with her mouth full.
“Yummy.” Lillian popped the rest of the confection into her mouth. When she’d swallowed, she said, “Let’s make sure to buy some to take home before we leave.”
“Good idea,” Vernon said. “But we may want to purchase them early, as I’m sure they will sell out.”
They continued along the south side of the midway past the Figure Eight Roller Coaster and the Old Mill Waterway Ride. Pearl noticed a sly grin pass between Will and Vernon. What was that about?
“Come on.” Lillian tugged on Vernon’s arm. “Let’s go on the bridge and watch the boats come down the chute. Then, I want to do it. If the rest of you are too chicken to try, I’ll go by myself.”
Pearl was getting caught up in her friend’s excitement. They stood in the middle of the bridge, first watching the boats slide down the incline, gaining speed before they disappeared under the bridge. The squeals coming from the passengers made them all laugh.
They turned and crossed to the other railing just as a boat splashed into the water, spraying the liquid out in front of them.
“It does look like fun,” Pearl said. “I’ve never done anything like it before.”
“Do you want to get in line now? Or do some of the other rides first? They may seem tame after Shooting the Chutes?” Will asked.
“Oh,” Lillian exclaimed. “I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe we should do the Merry-Go-Round and the Old Mill Water Way ride first.”
They decided to walk some more and found the baseball diamond as they rounded the end of the roller coaster. A sign said there would be a game beginning in a couple of hours.
The aroma of fried chicken drew them to the Cottage Inn, directly behind the Merry-Go-Round. Their mouths watered and they decided to ride the carousel then eat some of the chicken that had a reputation of being some of the best in St. Joe.
~~~~~
Will held Pearl’s hand as she stepped onto the platform of the Merry-Go-Round. He was enjoying having her at his side. So far, the day had exceeded his expectations. Her fear during the drive out to the Park was still evident in his sore fingers. Maybe he’d place his arm around her shoulders when they rode back to town. That would make her feel more secure, surely.
The horse she chose was white with a colorful red and pink painted mane. It was also stopped at the top of its vertical cycle. Will grinned and placed his hands on Pearl’s waist. “Here, let me help you.” Before she could protest or choose a different horse, Will lifted her up into the saddle. She teetered a little as she settled side-saddle and took hold of the brass pole. His horse was to the inside of hers and was black with a white mane. Just as he mounted, the music volume increased and the ride began its circular path.
Will watched Pearl as their horses moved up and down. Was it too soon to let her know of his interest in her? That he wanted to court her. That he was already planning a future with her. She’d only been widowed three months.
Propriety dictated that she be in mourning for a year before pursuing another relationship. That was if anyone else knew about it. Maybe he could indicate his interest and they could spend the next months learning more about each other and eventually begin making plans for after her period of mourning was over.
Her eyes met his occasionally as she looked avidly around. They echoed the smile on her face. He was glad to see her relaxed and having a good time. It seemed she’d been more somber and serious lately. Something was concerning her. He wanted to inquire but since neither she or Lillian had mentioned anything, he kept his peace. Maybe it was just grief due to the loss of her husband. He hoped that was all it was.
The ride slowed and finally stopped. Will’s horse was higher than Pearl’s now. He jumped down just as she stood. They ended up close together because of the small space.
“You’re supposed to dismount from a horse on the left, sir,” Pearl teased.
“And miss the opportunity to be this close to a beautiful lady? I think not.” He watched color infuse her cheeks. Grabbing her hand he led her to the edge of the platform and helped her descend.
Vernon, with Lillian on his arm, met them at the exit. “We beat you in the race,” he laughed.
Lillian swatted his arm. “We were just ahead of them on the ride. It wasn’t a race.”
Vernon lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “It is if I say so, and I do, and we won.”
Will exchanged a look with Pearl, whose eyebrow was raised slightly as was one corner of her mouth. Maybe he’d have to quiz her on his sister’s interest in the young doctor. That he could do without crossing the boundary of propriety. She was his sister. It was his job to watch out for her, to say nothing of his job to butt into her life.
The fried chicken was every bit as good as its reputation proclaimed. It was served with potato salad and other picnic sorts of foods. They decided to forego dessert as they all wanted to try the ice cream later in the afternoon.
A crier announced the baseball game was to commence shortly, so they procured tickets in the grandstand so the ladies wouldn’t have to sit in the sun. Since they didn’t care which team won, they cheered for both.
A couple of young boys hawked Cracker Jack, so the men bought two boxes and shared the sweet popcorn with the ladies. When the crowd began singing ‘Take Me Out To The Ballgame,’ Will and Vernon held up their boxes showing that they’d bought some ‘peanuts and Cracker Jack’ since Will had run to the stand before the game began, saying, “I can’t watch a baseball game without something to snack on.”
~~~~~
“Let’s either get ice cream or ride those rides,” Lillian pointed to the building where ice cream was sold, then to the Shoot the Chutes and the roller coaster. “The lines aren’t getting any shorter.”
Pearl looked and saw she was right. The lines for both rides would mean standing and waiting. “We could get the ice cream and eat it while we wait in line. They are selling it in paper bowls. I’ve seen quite a few people with them eating with little wooden sticks. See.” She indicated three children sitting on a bench, each with a small bowl. The youngest had dripped chocolate ice cream down the front of his white shirt.
They split up, the men going to get the ice cream, the women taking the opportunity to go to the ladies’ room before they got in line for the roller coaster. Lillian said she wanted to save the Chute for last.
When they were in the ladies’ retiring room, Lillian studied Pearl’s face. “Are you doing well? I don’t want you to get too tired. Just say the word and I’ll make an excuse to leave.”
Pearl set her hand on Lillian’s arm. “I’m doing okay. Sitting for the baseball game was restful. I’m sure I’ll be tired when we head home, but I want to stay for as long as we planned. I want to see the fireworks even though I know it will be late when we leave. I’m having so much fun. I haven’t had as much fun since before Patrick took ill.”
Lillian squeezed Pearl’s hand. “I understand. You just let me know if you want to rest, though. We can find a place under the trees and send the men off to play in the penny arcade or the pool hall for a while. So long as they don’t go to the cigar shack or the beer garden. Cigars stink and beer makes men muddle headed,” Lillian said with disgust, making Pearl laugh.
“Come, let’s get in line. The men will be coming with our ice cream.” Pearl led the way to where the line for the roller coaster began. The men joined them and they ate their cold treat as they watched the cars race around the track. “Are you sure they won’t f
ly off? They go so fast.” Pearl watched the car filled with screaming riders hurtle past. She was unsure if she wanted to climb in one and whip around the figure eight.
Will must have picked up on her unease. “It’s safe. Look at the way the wheels are on the tracks. They can’t go off the rails.” He grinned at her. “I’ll be next to you and hold you in. Does that make you feel safer?”
Pearl was surprised that it did. That Will would make sure she was safe. Patrick had been like that— supportive but not suppressive. “Yes, it does. Thank you.” She licked the last bit of ice cream off the stick. “Thank you for the ice cream too, and all the other things you’ve bought me today. I did bring money to pay my own way.”
Will took the bowl and stick. “No need. Today is my treat.” He smiled and went to toss the trash in the barrel nearby.
True to his word, Will sat next to her in the car. When the attendant fastened the bar across their laps, he wrapped his arm around her taking hold of the bar, enclosing her in his embrace.
She looked at him, and the emotion in his eyes made her stomach flutter. When the car began moving as the chain pulled it up the incline, Pearl gripped the bar harder and looked forward.
With a clank, clank, clank the car rose to the top. It paused a second then dropped over the edge. A scream rose as Pearl’s stomach was left at the top to follow as the car zoomed down then around a curve, back up another smaller incline, and down again. Around, up, down, around it went until it slowed and stopped at the place they boarded the car.
“You have to let go now, Pearl,” Will whispered in her ear. “It’s time to get off.”
Will studied her face. She tried to smile at him but knew he saw through her. This was not something she wanted to ever do again. It was too fast, too rough a ride, and her stomach was still trying to catch up with the rest of her body.
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