The Colored Car: Gender, Trauma, and Uncanny Films in the Weimar Republic

4. The Colored Car

4 57 The Colored Car Patsy could not remember her last train ride, but she was looking forward to this one. In the few days since going with her father to purchase the tickets and now, arriving at the train station, her mother had delighted the girls with stories about their last train trip to Clarksville, Tennessee. She told them that Doug was four years old, Patsy was two, Laura was just a babe in arms, and Jean and Annie May had not even been born yet. She explained how porters took the luggage to the baggage car. She said the conductor checked everyone’s ticket and made sure the train ran on time. She described the first-class train car with its fancy, upholstered seats and beautiful carpet down the aisle. She named all of the different foods available right there in the train car—dumplings stuffed with chicken or roast beef, tea sandwiches, petit 58 Jean Alicia Elster fours, fresh fruit compote. By the time the family arrived at the Michigan Central Station that afternoon—except for Doug who stayed home to unload a haul of wood—Patsy’s stomach was feeling a little funny, she was so excited. Douglas Ford went on ahead with the porter to get their luggage packed in the baggage car. May and the girls made a stop in the gift shop where she bought each of them a bag of peppermints for the trip. Patsy popped a peppermint in her mouth right away to help settle her stomach. Train leaving for Toledo, Cincinnati, Louisville, Clarksville, and Nashville now boarding at track number 23. “Come along, girls,” their mother said, holding Annie May in one arm and grabbing Jean’s hand with the other. Patsy and Laura followed her quick steps to meet their father at their train on track number 23. With train cars lined up on track after track, the smell of soot in the air got heavy and made Patsy’s nose itch. She coughed into her glove. Laura and Jean started coughing, too. “Put your handkerchief up to your nose, 59 The Colored Car girls,” May Ford instructed the sisters. “It will make it easier for you to breathe ’til we get onto the train.” When the coughing did not subside, May assured them, “They have air filters on the train cars. You won’t notice the soot and smoke from these steam engines not nearly as much.” Their father was standing by the first-class passenger car, beckoning them with his hand to hurry on up. “All right, now, there’s your father,” their mother said. All of the girls, except Annie May, ran up to meet him. Jean reached him first, and he scooped her up in his arms. Then just as quickly, when Patsy and Laura reached him, he put Jean down and hugged all three tightly. “You be good girls.” “We will, Daddy, we will.” “And mind your mother. Help her with baby Annie May.” “We will, Daddy!” Last call for Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Clarksville, and Nashville. Boarding at track number 23. 60 Jean Alicia Elster May Ford and Annie were standing with the other girls now. Douglas kissed his wife on the forehead. He kissed Annie May on the cheek. Then he helped each one onto the train car. May showed the girls to their seats. They left their seats and pressed their faces up against the windows looking for their father. May stood behind them. “Bye-bye, Daddy! Bye!” All aboard! There were two seats to a row. Patsy had the window seat and Laura sat next to the aisle. Jean sat in a window seat in the row behind them next to her mother, who was holding Annie May in her lap. Their father stood on the platform as the train slowly moved along the tracks. Patsy, sitting now, kept her face pressed against the window and waved until he was out of sight. The conductor entered the car. “Tickets ready, please,” he announced. Patsy turned her head and looked in the space between their two seats. She watched as her mother reached into her pocketbook and pulled out the five tickets. When he stopped by her seat, he punched a hole in each one. “Enjoy the ride,” he said, without 61 The Colored Car looking at either May or the girls, and moved on to the next row...