drive Dick and Ethel to Central, one in junior High there, the other just entering
Senior High. So, willy-nilly, they had to transfer in mid-term, too, as I did not
have time to drive them and it was an impossible trip by streetcar. Teddy and Peggy
I put in Country Day School, an excellent private school, as Eleanor suggested that
she could handle two more in her car along with the three she had in that school.
It was several years before I realised that Woodrow’s willingness to switch schools
abruptly had to do with a renovated cow pasture still farther south that had a sign
on it: ACE HARDY’S FUING SCHOOL. Woodrow had acquired (I think that is the right
word) his unlikely automobile in the summer of 1928, and after that we had seen
little of him other than at meals. But I discovered later that Woodrow had learned
to fly while still in high school.
As everyone knows, Black Tuesday arrived on the dot. Briney called me long distance
a week later. `Frau Doktor Krausmeyer?’
`Elmer!’
`Children okay?’
`Everyone is fine but they miss their Papa. As do I. Hurry home, dear; I’m honing to
see you.’
‘Didn’t that hired man work out?’
‘No staying power. I let him go. I decided to wait for you.’
‘But I’m not coming home.’
‘Oh.’
‘Don’t you want to know why?’
(Yes, Briney, I do want to know why. And some day I’m going to put itch powder into
your jock-strap for these guessing games.) `Buffalo Bill, you’ll tell me when it
suits you and whatever suits you.’
`Rangy Lil, how would you like to go to Paris? And to Switzerland?’
`Hadn’t you better make it South America? Some country where there is no
extradition?’ (Damn you, Briney! Quit teasing me.)
`I want you to leave tomorrow. Take the C and A to Chicago, then the Pennsy to New
York. I’ll meet your train and take you to our hotel. We sail for Cherbourg on
Saturday.’
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`Yes, sir.’ (Oh, that man!) `About our children – Seven, I believe. Are you
interested in the arrangements I make for them? Or shall I just use my judgement?’
(What arrangements can I make with Eleanor?)
`Use your judgement. But if Ira is there, I’d like to speak to him.’
`To hear is to obey, Effendi.’
After Brian spoke to him, Father said to me, `I told Brian not to worry, as Ethel is
a competent cook. If she needs help, I will hire help. So, Maureen, you mo run along
and have fun; the youngsters will be safe. Don’t pack more than two bags, because -‘
The phone rang again.
`Maureen? Your big sister, dear. Did you hear from Brian?’
`Yes.’
`Good. I have the train schedules and the Pullman reservations; Justin arranged them
from New York. Frank will drive us to the station. You must be ready by ten tomorrow
morning. Can you manage it?’
`I’ll have to manage it. I may be barefooted and my hair in a bath knot -‘
I became addicted to travel in a luxury liner in nothing flat. The Île de France was
a wonderful shock to little Maureen Johnson whose idea of luxury was enough
bathrooms for seven – usually seven; it varied – children and enough hot water.
Briney had taken me to the Grand Canyon two years earlier and that was wonderful …
but this was another sort of wonderful. A concierge who seemed anxious to swim back
and fetch anything Madame wishes. A maid who spoke English but understood my French
and did not laugh at my accent. A full orchestra at dinner, a chamber music trio for
tea, dancing to live music every night. Breakfast in bed. A masseuse on call. A
living-room for our suite bigger and much fancier than Eleanor’s at home, and two
master bedrooms.
`Justin, why are we at the Captain’s table?’
`I don’t know. Because we have this suite, maybe.’
`And why do we have this suite? Everything in first class looks luxurious; I would
not have complained if we had been in second class. But this is gilding the lily.