Family Bonding
Written by: A. Lincoln
II: One of Many
Niagara Falls, New York 1905
"All aboard! The Chicago train will be departing for New York in five minutes!"
My eyes were wide as I scanned the deck. People were everywhere; all of them seemed extremely large and tall as I searched for the one person I couldn't afford to lose.
He was here just a minute ago! He was standing beside me, grasping my hand for dear life as people rushed by us with no regard for others' safety. I had let go of his hand for a mere second to help my husband load our baggage onto the train. In that second, he was gone.
At first I had assumed he went to help Charles, our cousin from New York who had been staying with us, with the baggage. But he was 4 years old, and I knew he was probably causing mischief somewhere beyond my line of sight.
But now it had been fifteen minutes and my mind could no longer take it. I could see my husband across the deck, at the front of the train, asking a crowd of men if they had seen a small boy. I myself was nearing a large group of women who were swooning at something – or someone.
"Excuse me, ladies," I began, and they stopped immediately once they saw the look of pure fear etched on my face. "Have you seen a young boy, my son, about this high" – I gestured to my hip area, although it was difficult to see under my layers of dress -"reddish brown ringlet curls up to his jaw, green eyes, Buster Brown tunic, you know, that horrible little rascal in the Sunday papers that every child loves –"
By now I was making frantic gestures in the air, waving my arms around like a fool. The women, clearly confused, looked to one another and unspoken messages flowed through their eyes. The oldest, with a softly rippling golden hair and beautiful hazelnut eyes, laughed and motioned behind her. And surely Edward was there, grasping the back of her dress and grinning shamelessly.
My face automatically softened at his expression, but when he stuck his tongue out at me in the most defiant manner, it hardened.
"Edward Anthony Masen, come here right now!" My voice was demanding, but the way my hand shot up contradicted my words. Somehow he knew I wasn't mad at him and he never failed to express this knowledge through the actions he deemed fun.
The old woman, who seemed unperturbed by the way he was clinging onto her dress, bent down and handed him a lollipop. I watched as he accepted it graciously with a courteous bow and a thank you, and ran off - in the direction of the front of the train.
The train was slowly itching forward to make room for the final car to approach the deck. Even at that speed, it would still manage to inflict damage upon my son if he were to hit it.
I opened my mouth to scream for someone to stop him when a hand shot out, clamped my mouth shut, and dragged me to the train.
I tried to bite it, figuring that I might as well embarrass myself further since I had already broken many of society's unspoken rules, but the hand was dirty and I could taste the copper on it when I opened my mouth.
I was dropped down onto the cushion in our car on the train and my dress fanned out over the red seating. The man who had kidnapped me sat across and smiled as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"Charles, go get Edward!" I yelled, tears falling free down my cheeks. I pointed to the window. "Did you not see where that child was heading? The train will hit him. Oh no, someone stop him, oh please, please." I was sobbing into my bonnet, leaving it a disgusting mess with my cascading tears.
His face went from amusement to regret as he took a napkin out of his suit pocket. "Elizabeth, I'm sorry. Edward is all right, I can assure you." His voice still held traces of amusement and I glared at him through my hazy vision.
"How would you know? You didn't stop him, did you?" I bit my lip to stop from yelling because I could feel many eyes on our figures.
"I want my lollipop back, thief!"
My head shot up when I heard that tiny voice that belonged to my erratic son. I turned to Charles, who had a look on him that suggested he knew where Edward was headed all along, and then I focused my attention to where the voice had emerged from.
Standing there, a look of pure joy on his face was my husband, a lollipop in his mouth, holding Edward in the crook of his arm.
Ed saw the look on my face and set Edward on the ground. He approached me and crouched down so that his mahogany eyes met mine.
"Darling, what's wrong? I found Edward, by the way." He smiled, but that was soon replaced by a frown of confusion. He honestly had no idea what I had just gone through.
Charles sent me a look of pity and Edward just stood there, still trying to pull the lollipop from my husband's mouth.
"Men!" I hissed, and then put my head on the table in front of me.
I didn't care if people were doubting my sanity and my upbringing; I would take a nap right here, whether anyone liked it or not.
It was early morning when we arrived in New York. Edward had fallen asleep about midway there and his other half was playing cards with Charles in the other car when the train finally came to a stop.
I had cleaned myself up and looked much more presentable when I exited. Waiting there was John and his wife, Sally, with their car. Of course, I had no idea what was so special about their red machine, but my husband was ecstatic when he caught sight of it.
"Oh, there it is!" He grinned and walked over to it with a look in his eyes that told me he was love struck. "The new Cadillac Model A, only three years on the market." He was stroking it lovingly, admiring the leather cushioning and metal frame.
"Edward Sr., mind saying hello to your family first?" Sally asked with mock jealousy. John laughed lightly and made his way over to me, a look of happiness on his face.
"John," I greeted, moving forward to meet him.
"Oh, Elizabeth, it's been so long," he replied, taking me in his arms. John and I had been friends since birth, inseparable until his family was required to work in New York. It had been years since I had seen him, and I was glad to be in his presence now.
We hugged for an immeasurable moment before he reluctantly let go.
"And look! If it isn't little Edward." John grinned and grabbed Edward who was hiding behind my dress. Edward squealed joyfully, wrapping his arms around John's neck as he twirled him around.
I was truly happy that my family could now make yearly trips to visit everyone in New York. With the completion of that railroad, I could now show Edward what lie beyond the walls of Chicago. I wanted to expose him to the wonders of the world.
They continued to twirl (I'm sure John must have been dizzy), as I headed over to the car. Charles was already in the other vehicle, having packed all the belongings while we were greeting each other. I felt a tad bit sorry for not aiding him in his work, but that was not my responsibility as a woman. But, as I passed him to head into the Cadillac, I whispered my appreciation and he returned it with a charming smile.
We were on our way to John's home to freshen up and catch up with one another. Then, on my son's request and my horror, we would be visiting the Low Steel Arch Bridge. I couldn't hide the terror on my face and my husband noticed.
"What's wrong?" He whispered.
I looked at him strangely, as though that question was completely out of place. "Hm? Ah, I'm fine."
I couldn't tell him that the fact that the Niagara River roared below was the scariest prospect I have ever had to face in my life, other than child birth.
I took a deep breath and made my face give nothing away as the car rolled along the rocky road. Suddenly, Edward spoke from my lap.
"Mommy, it won't be scary."
Although I had no idea how he knew I was scared, I wished I could believe him.
It was late afternoon when I found myself on the sidewalk of the Low Steel Arch Bridge, holding on for dear life. My husband and Edward had ventured out further, laughing and pointing out how fast the water was rushing beneath us. I wanted to run back to the car, but my dress would probably cause me to slip, and heaven forbid that I fall to my death.
"John, please," I begged, turning around to face him. His eyes were twinkling with excitement, as were Sally's as they slowly pushed their way forward, forcing me to move along with them.
"Don't worry," he started in a low voice.
"They wouldn't build this bridge if they wanted people to fall," Sally finished, a smirk plastered on her white face.
"But you never know…" I insisted, my eyes staring into theirs helplessly.
"Daddy!" Edward's shout caused me to spin around and almost trip over the tassels at the end of my dress.
What I saw nearly made me scream in terror.
My husband was holding Edward by his waist as he sat over the edge, pointing out to Niagara Falls far off in the distance. My throat was dry as I ran towards them. I could hear Sally's and John's footsteps behind my figure, although the sound was small in comparison to the frantic beating of my heart.
I looked at my husband. "Edward, what on Earth are you doing?!"
He looked at me and grinned. "Showing our son the beauty of nature."
I looked at my son. "Edward, did you ask for this?!"
He looked at me and grinned. "Mommy, I want to jump off here one day and swim with the fishies!"
Later that day, John politely informed me that I fainted on the spot and made Edward upset because I caused everyone to worry. With this I realized that I should not have let him read those Buster Brown cartoons in the Sunday Paper. That boy was not a good influence on him.
And the sad thing was that I knew that wish would be just one of many that would cause me some sort of harm.
Posted: June 22nd, 2008.
Author's Note: This first wish is something I absolutely would NEVER do. Goodness, Edward is such a daredevil. ;) This actually came from my friend's nephew who said this upon seeing the Rainbow Bridge. I pulled an Elizabeth when I saw that bridge for the first time.