Comfort and Mirth

22. Power

>22. Power As registered suffragists, Camille and Eveline had been encouraged to march in the Fourth of July parade. But Camille wanted to watch the parade with Andrew, and Eveline didn’t want to march without Camille, so the Abernathys and the Leightons attended the parade together. By the time they got there, such a dense crowd had gathered along both sides of Congress Avenue, Brooks had to hold Andrew on his shoulders so he could see the passing ponies, bicycles, and fire engines. When his back started to ache, Andrew was transferred onto Thomas’ shoulders. He shouted with glee and smacked Thomas soundly on the top of his head several times when the university band marched by playing “The Eyes of Texas.”Thomas laughed until tears glistened in the corners of his eyes under his glasses.After Mayor Wooldridge rode by dressed as Uncle Sam in a float fitted out with red, white, and blue crepe paper, the broom brigade followed , sweeping the rubble from the streets. Thomas handed Andrew over to Camille.“What shall we do now?” he asked. “It won’t be dark enough to shoot our fireworks until at least eight this evening.” “Let’s have a picnic,” Eveline suggested as she smoothed the wrinkles out of Thomas’ shirt. “Sounds fun,” Camille agreed.“I’ve made a custard so we can crank ice cream.” Andrew started to pitch in her arms. The sidewalk had cleared, so she set him on his feet and held his hands while he stretched his legs. 189 “We could drive up into the hills and picnic on the river,” Brooks said. “I’ve been curious to see the new dam Wooldridge is having built. Maybe we can get a look at the generator.” “I’d like to see that, too,”Thomas agreed.“The first dam broke before we got here, but I’ve heard the lake formed out of the river was a grand place for all sorts of recreational sport. People came from all over the country for sailboat regattas, and a fleet of boats could be rented—including a steamboat for moonlight excursions.” “Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”Eveline smiled at Camille. After much discussion,they decided to return to their respective homes to prepare a picnic before driving out to the dam. Then they would return to the Abernathys’ to make ice cream and shoot fireworks. Thomas said he would help Eveline fry chicken and boil corn on the cob, so Camille volunteered to make potato salad and coleslaw. Brooks and Andrew napped while Camille boiled potatoes and shredded cabbages. She snipped some fresh dill and chives from her garden and had both salads mixed and well chilled by noon.When Brooks awoke, he helped her pack a basket and went out to the garage to find something in which to ice down his beer. Camille fixed a snack for Andrew and got him ready as Brooks came in with a tin pail and checked his watch.“They’re late,” he said.“I’ll give them a ring.” Camille checked through the basket to make sure Brooks packed everything she had laid out, then sat down at the kitchen table to watch Andrew as he played with his fire truck on the floor. Brooks hung up the receiver and came into the kitchen with a puzzled frown. “That was odd,” he said as he chipped ice from the block in the icebox. “Are they all right?” Camille asked. 190 Comfort and Mirth “I think so,” his voice trailed. “Thomas said they were running behind but they’re just about ready.” “It takes time to fry chicken,” Camille remarked. “He sounded upset.” Brooks packed ice around the bottles in his pail and went into the hall to get his black western hat.“I told him we’d pick them up. I’ll put everything in the car.” Camille gathered a few of Andrew’s smaller toys and tucked them into a bag with his diapers; she put on her straw boater, grabbed up a couple of summer parasols and, balancing Andrew on her hip, followed Brooks out to the car. “Maybe they’re arguing,” she said.“Why don’t we give them a few more minutes?” “I’m starving now,” Brooks answered.“Whatever it is, I’m sure they’ll rise above it. Let’s go.” When Brooks squeezed the horn outside the Leightons’ home, Thomas hurried...