Susannah Remembers
Chapter 4 Beach
Mother was the doctor, but one day when she was out William and I were home alone. Penny was off and Linney the maid was out shopping. He was in his office working on some project or case and I was playing in the backyard. I was about 5.
As I reached to pick a flower a hornet stung my hand. I must have screamed bloody murder because William came bounding out of the house, running to me. "What happened Sweetie?" he asked.
I held up my swollen hand while sobbing. He grabbed me into his arms and carried me into the house, setting me on the edge of the kitchen table. He hurried to his office and back in a couple of seconds. He had a tweezers and magnifying glass with him. In no time he had removed the stinger. He then washed my hand, put some alcohol on it, and then a bandage which he tied with a cute bow. He picked me up and carried me to my room where he sat in the bedside chair, rocking and holding me. I snuggled into his chest until I stopped crying. I remember him talking to me in a soothing voice but I don't remember the words. I always felt so safe in his arms.
When I was a little older I would wonder to myself why William and Julia had never adopted more children. Once I overheard them talking about it.
"William, would you like to adopt another child, maybe an infant boy?"
"I've thought about it from time to time. But to tell you the truth, I'm satisfied with my two girls. Not every man has an undying need for a son. But if you want to adopt again, you know I'm with you 100 per cent."
"I just thought you had always wanted a son. I'm happy with our family like it is as well. Susie is the perfect child."
"Don't ever tell her that," he laughed. "There'll be no living with her." Then they both laughed and embraced.
Life wasn't always adventures. Sometimes it was just fun. I remember one hot summer when I was eight and we went to the beach. It wasn't one of the public ones with scores of people. This was a private beach that Uncle James owned, or rented, or leased, or stole... With James Pendrick you never really knew. The only people there that day were us, Penny and her friend Clarence, Uncle George and Aunt Emily (who were married by now), James and Aunt Ruby, Thomas, Margaret, and their two sons, Bobby and John. I always had fun with the Brackenreid boys. They were like big brothers to me and one day John would be even more to me.
It would be a few years before the automobile became more prevalent than the horse and carriage, although Uncle James always had some kind of automated vehicles around. And William always delighted in driving them and tinkering with their motors. And on this day Uncle James had us all delivered to the beach in several of his automobiles, one of which William happily drove.
We had all the amenities-umbrellas, cabanas, lounge chairs, towels galore, picnic baskets. Everyone changed into their bathing suits and headed for the shore.
Julia had taught me to swim as she was the best swimmer of everyone there. William was a good swimmer but not nearly as strong as Julia. I think it amused him that she was so much better than him at a physical activity. She had even saved his life once when he had been knocked unconscious and fallen into the lake. She had kicked off her shoes and removed her skirt, diving into the water without a second thought, swimming to him, pulling him up when he'd gone under, and swimming quickly back with her arm around him.
We all went into the water laughing and yelling. Julia and William swam way out away from the rest of us and we didn't see them again for quite some time. I played with Bobby and John. They were never mean to me and always tried to include me in their games. We swam for a while then we sat on the beach and began to build a sand castle. At last William and Julia returned with blissful smiles on their faces-and everyone noticed.
When William saw us children playing in the sand, he couldn't help himself and had to join us, as did Uncle James. Needless to say, our sand castle was a glorious masterpiece. And William and James didn't take over either. We kids added as much to the edifice as the grown-ups did. But it didn't hurt that an architect/inventor and an inventor/scientist were there to help with the design.
It was great fun. When we finished William grabbed me into his arms and ran into the water with me, wading out with me on his shoulders. Then he dumped me into the water and we swam back, racing. He always let me win.
We had brought enough food for a feast. When we had finished eating everyone just seemed to relax and chat. This had been a wonderful day with all of our best friends. By the time we were to go home I had fallen asleep in Julia's lap. I didn't wake up until Julia and William were tucking me in. I remember that day being one of the most fun of my childhood.