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smackenzieOn Sunday, because it is Mother's Day, nine of the ten Godwin children sit down for lunch in the larger dining room. Lucas has brought Nathaniel down from the convalescent home, and Marcus has consented to appear in his father's house, and Matthew would have brought Alianor but she is spending the day with her aunt, because she cannot spend it with her own mother and because her aunt has children too. Gabriel will not travel from Chicago for such a new holiday, and besides, he says, Mr Godwin's current wife is not his mother.
(Con tried to make this point as well, but Julia reminded him that Mr Godwin's current wife isn't Nathaniel and Lucas' mother either, and they are both coming without complaint. "Even Marcus will be here," she said, "so you be quiet and be nice." He looked taken aback but has been almost a model son so far.)
So there are seven Godwin boys in good suits and ties, and two Godwin girls in nice dresses, and even Mrs Malcolm looks dressed up. She always gets half of Sunday off anyway, but this year Mr Godwin told her she could take the whole day if she wished. She thanked him but said her son was in Pittsburgh and there was no point in having a day off if all she was going to do was sit in her house and not be able to see him. She would rather work.
She has Mr Sewell to help her serve, as well as one of Luisa's cousins, who works as a hotel maid during the week but is quick on her feet and handy in the kitchen and available on the weekends if Mrs Malcolm needs the help.
Mr and Mrs Godwin both went to church that morning, with William and Aimee and Matthew, while Julia was left in charge of James. He stood next to the sink and watched Con shave, and then she made him take a bath by himself. She even let him dress himself, although Mrs Godwin had already told her what he should wear, and as neither of them knows how to tie a bow tie, they had to ask Con to do it.
"William can do his own tie," Con said, fussing with the length of silk around James' neck. James was standing on a stool in the nusery so Con could fix the tie without having to bend over.
"William is eleven," Julia said, as if that answered everything.
Con snorted, straightened James' tie, and told him not to play with it.
When the others came back from church, Mr Godwin commented on James' tie and said he was proud that his son was growing up so well. James beamed, unused to getting compliments from his father.
And now they are almost all here, ranged around the large dining room table, Mr Godwin at the head lifting his glass in a toast to Mrs Godwin at the foot, James trying not to loosen his tie, everyone else more or less attentive.
"I would like to toast my children, too," Mrs Godwin says, raising her own glass. "Without them I would not be a mother."
Con mumbles something under his breath, and it must be unkind because James - who is sitting next to her - can feel Julia kicking him under the table. Across the table Marcus rolls his eyes, and James notices that Matthew seems to have nudged him as well. If Mrs Godwin sees any of this, she says nothing.
Conversation during lunch is light and varied - are Alianor and her aunt well, what are James and Aimee and William learning in school, have Matthew or Marcus heard from Gabriel, is Nathaniel enjoying the countryside upstate. Mrs Godwin imparts some society gossip that she has heard from her friends. Mr Godwin shares a ridiculous story about his secretary's dog. Lucas tells a couple of good jokes. James mightily resists the urge to talk about his and Julia's adventure yesterday, when he got to ride a streetcar and see a movie and a serial and some newsreels, and eat ice cream and see the lady with the Pekingese dogs. Marcus says very little, only opening his mouth to speak when Mr Godwin casually mentions Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, but Matthew and Mrs Godwin smooth over the potential tension.
After dessert, Mr Godwin and his oldest sons take their coffee into the parlor to talk, and when it becomes clear from the raised voices that they are talking about business and politics, Mrs Godwin suggests the rest of them go for a walk, as it is a lovely sunny day and she would like to be seen with at least half of her handsome family.
"You may stay and talk with your brothers if you wish," she tells Con, who just shrugs and says he isn't interested in business. Fortunately he does not seem to be interested in Luisa's cousin either, so when Mrs Godwin leads James and Julia and Aimee and William outside, he trails after them. Nathaniel has left the discussion in the parlor and come to join them. Mrs Godwin holds out her hand to him, gesturing for him to walk with her, and he does.
James likes Nathaniel, for the little he sees of him, but there is something unsettled about him. Nathaniel volunteered to fight and was sent to France during the Great War, and Lucas went with him to watch out for him, but Nathaniel came back a stranger and more nervous man, whereas Lucas returned apparently unchanged. And so Lucas has gone to work for Mr Godwin, while Nathaniel is "convalescing" upstate. From what James can understand, this means that Nathaniel gets to stay in a place that sounds very like a hotel, but with a doctor to keep an eye on him. It sounds restful to James, if a bit boring, and it seems to be helping Nathaniel. He smiles and laughs and looks genuinely and uncomplicatedly happy to be with his family, and he does not seem to startle much at the noise of the city as they walk.
But after about fifteen minutes he tells Mrs Godwin that he wishes to go home, and even James can see that he is looking a bit nervous. So Mrs Godwin escorts him back to the house, along with William (who is bored with waling) and Aimee (who is tired and wants to take a nap). She reminds Con and Julia and James to come home before their brothers leave so they can say good-bye properly, and then she thanks them for behaving so nicely during lunch, and heads back to the house.
"Can we go see a movie?" James asks, as soon as his mother is out of hearing distance. Julia laughs.
"Next Saturday, I told you," she says.
"Next Saturday," Con repeats, looking interested.
"Do not tell anyone until after Momma says we can go."
"Why, Julia Godwin, are you waiting for permission?" Con feigns shock at Julia's seeming obedience to Mrs Godwin's rules. "How unlike you."
Julia sticks her tongue out at him. "I do not want to get Luisa in trouble."
"I asked her if she would take us," James adds. "And she said she would ask if it was ok. And if Momma says yes, we can go, she will go with us."
"Luisa will be in the theater with you?" Con asks. James nods. "Hm. If you see a horror picture, or one with a lot of suspenseful action, she may need someone to hold her hand and comfort her."
"She has turned you down every other time," Julia reminds him. "Why do you think this will be any different?"
"Because it will be a new and exciting experience," he says loftily. Julia giggles. James giggles. Con looks unamused.
They walk for a little while longer, talking about their brothers and wondering how much yelling is going on at home, until Julia looks at her watch and suggests they turn around and go back, because she wants the chance to say good-bye to Lucas and Nathaniel and Matthew.
They arrive at the house just in time to see Luisa's cousin bring Nathaniel and Lucas their hats, and just in time to hear Mrs Godwin ask Nathaniel if he is sure he won't stay the night.
"This is too much." He nods towards the parlor. "I am sorry."
"Do not worry. I want you to be well." He is holding his hat but she takes his free hand in hers. "Mr Sewell is bringing the car around. Thank you for coming. It is always good to see you."
"It is good to see you and Father as well. Good-bye." He leans in and kisses her on the cheek, then gently pulls his hand away and puts on his hat. Lucas also kisses her on the cheek and wishes her well, and then he and his twin go outside where Mr Sewell is no doubt waiting for them.
words: 1515
total words: 8615
today's quickie research: the boston police strike of 1919, shell shock
(Con tried to make this point as well, but Julia reminded him that Mr Godwin's current wife isn't Nathaniel and Lucas' mother either, and they are both coming without complaint. "Even Marcus will be here," she said, "so you be quiet and be nice." He looked taken aback but has been almost a model son so far.)
So there are seven Godwin boys in good suits and ties, and two Godwin girls in nice dresses, and even Mrs Malcolm looks dressed up. She always gets half of Sunday off anyway, but this year Mr Godwin told her she could take the whole day if she wished. She thanked him but said her son was in Pittsburgh and there was no point in having a day off if all she was going to do was sit in her house and not be able to see him. She would rather work.
She has Mr Sewell to help her serve, as well as one of Luisa's cousins, who works as a hotel maid during the week but is quick on her feet and handy in the kitchen and available on the weekends if Mrs Malcolm needs the help.
Mr and Mrs Godwin both went to church that morning, with William and Aimee and Matthew, while Julia was left in charge of James. He stood next to the sink and watched Con shave, and then she made him take a bath by himself. She even let him dress himself, although Mrs Godwin had already told her what he should wear, and as neither of them knows how to tie a bow tie, they had to ask Con to do it.
"William can do his own tie," Con said, fussing with the length of silk around James' neck. James was standing on a stool in the nusery so Con could fix the tie without having to bend over.
"William is eleven," Julia said, as if that answered everything.
Con snorted, straightened James' tie, and told him not to play with it.
When the others came back from church, Mr Godwin commented on James' tie and said he was proud that his son was growing up so well. James beamed, unused to getting compliments from his father.
And now they are almost all here, ranged around the large dining room table, Mr Godwin at the head lifting his glass in a toast to Mrs Godwin at the foot, James trying not to loosen his tie, everyone else more or less attentive.
"I would like to toast my children, too," Mrs Godwin says, raising her own glass. "Without them I would not be a mother."
Con mumbles something under his breath, and it must be unkind because James - who is sitting next to her - can feel Julia kicking him under the table. Across the table Marcus rolls his eyes, and James notices that Matthew seems to have nudged him as well. If Mrs Godwin sees any of this, she says nothing.
Conversation during lunch is light and varied - are Alianor and her aunt well, what are James and Aimee and William learning in school, have Matthew or Marcus heard from Gabriel, is Nathaniel enjoying the countryside upstate. Mrs Godwin imparts some society gossip that she has heard from her friends. Mr Godwin shares a ridiculous story about his secretary's dog. Lucas tells a couple of good jokes. James mightily resists the urge to talk about his and Julia's adventure yesterday, when he got to ride a streetcar and see a movie and a serial and some newsreels, and eat ice cream and see the lady with the Pekingese dogs. Marcus says very little, only opening his mouth to speak when Mr Godwin casually mentions Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, but Matthew and Mrs Godwin smooth over the potential tension.
After dessert, Mr Godwin and his oldest sons take their coffee into the parlor to talk, and when it becomes clear from the raised voices that they are talking about business and politics, Mrs Godwin suggests the rest of them go for a walk, as it is a lovely sunny day and she would like to be seen with at least half of her handsome family.
"You may stay and talk with your brothers if you wish," she tells Con, who just shrugs and says he isn't interested in business. Fortunately he does not seem to be interested in Luisa's cousin either, so when Mrs Godwin leads James and Julia and Aimee and William outside, he trails after them. Nathaniel has left the discussion in the parlor and come to join them. Mrs Godwin holds out her hand to him, gesturing for him to walk with her, and he does.
James likes Nathaniel, for the little he sees of him, but there is something unsettled about him. Nathaniel volunteered to fight and was sent to France during the Great War, and Lucas went with him to watch out for him, but Nathaniel came back a stranger and more nervous man, whereas Lucas returned apparently unchanged. And so Lucas has gone to work for Mr Godwin, while Nathaniel is "convalescing" upstate. From what James can understand, this means that Nathaniel gets to stay in a place that sounds very like a hotel, but with a doctor to keep an eye on him. It sounds restful to James, if a bit boring, and it seems to be helping Nathaniel. He smiles and laughs and looks genuinely and uncomplicatedly happy to be with his family, and he does not seem to startle much at the noise of the city as they walk.
But after about fifteen minutes he tells Mrs Godwin that he wishes to go home, and even James can see that he is looking a bit nervous. So Mrs Godwin escorts him back to the house, along with William (who is bored with waling) and Aimee (who is tired and wants to take a nap). She reminds Con and Julia and James to come home before their brothers leave so they can say good-bye properly, and then she thanks them for behaving so nicely during lunch, and heads back to the house.
"Can we go see a movie?" James asks, as soon as his mother is out of hearing distance. Julia laughs.
"Next Saturday, I told you," she says.
"Next Saturday," Con repeats, looking interested.
"Do not tell anyone until after Momma says we can go."
"Why, Julia Godwin, are you waiting for permission?" Con feigns shock at Julia's seeming obedience to Mrs Godwin's rules. "How unlike you."
Julia sticks her tongue out at him. "I do not want to get Luisa in trouble."
"I asked her if she would take us," James adds. "And she said she would ask if it was ok. And if Momma says yes, we can go, she will go with us."
"Luisa will be in the theater with you?" Con asks. James nods. "Hm. If you see a horror picture, or one with a lot of suspenseful action, she may need someone to hold her hand and comfort her."
"She has turned you down every other time," Julia reminds him. "Why do you think this will be any different?"
"Because it will be a new and exciting experience," he says loftily. Julia giggles. James giggles. Con looks unamused.
They walk for a little while longer, talking about their brothers and wondering how much yelling is going on at home, until Julia looks at her watch and suggests they turn around and go back, because she wants the chance to say good-bye to Lucas and Nathaniel and Matthew.
They arrive at the house just in time to see Luisa's cousin bring Nathaniel and Lucas their hats, and just in time to hear Mrs Godwin ask Nathaniel if he is sure he won't stay the night.
"This is too much." He nods towards the parlor. "I am sorry."
"Do not worry. I want you to be well." He is holding his hat but she takes his free hand in hers. "Mr Sewell is bringing the car around. Thank you for coming. It is always good to see you."
"It is good to see you and Father as well. Good-bye." He leans in and kisses her on the cheek, then gently pulls his hand away and puts on his hat. Lucas also kisses her on the cheek and wishes her well, and then he and his twin go outside where Mr Sewell is no doubt waiting for them.
words: 1515
total words: 8615
today's quickie research: the boston police strike of 1919, shell shock
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Date: 2011-11-06 03:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-06 04:09 pm (UTC)