Hope's Imperfection

Chapter 21: Thanksgiving

Frances did not even wait for Sarah and her mother to get out of the car. As soon as the vehicle brushed the stones at the end of our driveway, my mother stormed to the door, ready to welcome our weekend guests. Hospitality was my mother’s true religion. Not to appear too eager, I waited inside the big bay window and watched Sarah and her mother emerged from their car after the long drive.

Sarah surfaced first from the passenger side. She wore a pair of faded blue jeans and a University of Chicago sweatshirt. Her frizzy blonde hair was in a state of free fall from the long trip but it was dutifully held together by a side pony tail, a look I had seen many times before. She bounced to the trunk and took out a bag that seemed much larger than would be required for a four-day visit. I’m sure it was well organized. She was the picture of youthful elegance and my heart lifted, seeing her again.

“Hi, I’m Frances. Welcome,” proclaimed my mother.

“I’m Laura, Sarah’s mother. Pleased to meet you.”

Sarah followed her mother and received a hug from Frances. I greeted Laura and waited my turn for Sarah. She smiled at me and put her arms around me gingerly, careful not to injure my frail physique or displace the Orioles hat that was hiding my bald skull. My body felt small and withered but the moment when I was reunited with Sarah was as sweet as I’d imagined.

My mother layered the coffee table with an assortment of snacks and we sat around, telling tales and getting to know each other. Olivia was the spokesperson for our family and I could tell she was determined to get to know Sarah as well as she could. The conversation flowed and covered universities, weather, Chicago, highways, and finally settled on shopping.

I had a special trip planned for Sarah and me on Friday that I hoped she’d enjoy.

On Thursday Sarah spent the day inside with me, reading Richard’s diary. We had an assortment of books, pamphlets, and my father’s Civil War memorabilia all over the floor of my room. Frequently we were joined by Olivia but we didn’t mind all; it was fun to include her in the story. Frances and Laura seemed to hit it off well and spent time chatting and getting to know each other while plotting occasional trips to the shops.

Friday was the big day. Sarah and I were up and ready for our journey first thing in the morning. She had never been to Washington, D.C., and I couldn’t wait to show her the sights. From Penn Station in Baltimore to Union station in D.C. is a fifty-minute straight shot on the MARC. The train spits you out in plain sight of the U.S. capitol building; for a first-time visitor it’s difficult not to be impressed. Having been to D.C. many times in the past, I’m a pro. No wasted time in wandering around the city or taking in the sights in a boring double-decker, I headed for a vendor that rented segways and headsets. Together Sarah and I spun through the National Mall and pounded out the sites. It is always interesting to find out which of the monuments people prefer; they always have a favorite. Mine is the Lincoln Memorial but for Sarah the Capitol Building was difficult to beat. We had covered quite a bit of ground before we stopped for lunch and had a chat.

“Did you know that you were sick when you were on the road with me?” Sarah asked.

“No, not really. It was when I got home that I thought something was wrong. I picked up a fever that wouldn’t go away.”