Ch. 139; Vol. 10
Except for Joe, we had a full-family field trip. We drove up after church in time to join the big green for Cahokia: The City of the Sun.
“Off we go!” said Mom. “Happy happy happy!”
“Speak for yourself,” Rose replied. “Heh heh.”
Sun Chips, purples grapes, carrots, iced tea. Brownies. Puck pulled grapes from the container, noting their size…
“This is a baby one… This is a brudder [brother]… This is a parent… This is a teenager…”
“Thirsty!”
“I’m so thirsty!”
Salty pretzel had induced cries of parchment from the 22 year-old and 18 year-old in the back…
“I’m soooo thiiiiiirsty!”
The city skyline was so hazy, the Arch looked faded. A knife would cut the air. Fortunately, in the heat we weren’t prepared for, a shuttle bus took us across the street and down the stretch to the tents. Puck made a clay pinch pot and set it on a grassy bank to dry in the sun. He ground some corn the ancient way. Watched a few kids throw wood spears at cut-outs of deer and bears. Then we relaxed in the cool museum where a few of the kids bought sodas from the cafe. And kettle corn, two big bags. Mom can never pass up kettle corn.
“The largest archaeological site north of Mexico,” Mom repeated from the film.
Pride.
“I know of a good exhibit,” Francis announced, patting his stomach as usual. “It’s called the shuttle back to the parking lot exhibit.”
On the drive back we hit up a monster historic home with a saltwater pool for sale that Rose was looking into…
“It has four chimneys.”
“Well. I guess I’ll get it.”
“Onion! PLEASE get it so I can EXPLORE IT ON WEDNESDAYS!”
He meant Tuesdays, but it was the thought.
And then some large acreage of fields and honeysuckle just down the road that Carrie had her hooks on.
Right about the time Dad, Mom, The Bear, [and presumably Francis] took siesta and Carrie mixed the henna for my hair and Rose’s…
“Aah! Rose! Come quick! There’s a salamander and Snuggles is trying to kill it! It just ran under your laundry basket! Snuggs took off his tail!”
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Rose grabbed the heavy glass cover of Mom’s cake plate to trap the amphibian.
“You are so bad at catching things, Rose. I’ll get a flashlight. Snuggles, you’re a bad cat. You know you’re not supposed to bring these things inside.”
Both girls were practically on their stomachs, surveying under the refrigerator…
“Ug.”
“What?”
“It’s his tail.”
“It is?”
“Yeah. It’s his butt. Move the refrigerator.”
“Fine. You get that side.”
“Don’t put the hanger under there. You’re going to hurt him. You’re the worst catcher.”
“AAAAAH!”
“AAAAAH!”
“He’s squiggling!”
“Aah! He put his ‘stumpy’ on the rice!”
This is… expected. Also were the two perfect paw prints Snuggles left in the fresh pan of brownies while Carrie applied the henna. Mine, copper. Rose, blonde.
Then we caught the salamander. A joint effort between Dad, Carrie, and myself. Dad deposited him in the yard. Lawrence Welk. Rose had a party at Annamaria’s, Francis had a graduation party in Troy, Linnea had youth group, we hadn’t seen Joe all day with parties and concerts and stuff. The Bear met Magnus for coffee in the late evening. There were Tornado Watches out and about. We have our plans.