Violet Gentles
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
The previous afternoon had been pleasant. The hours leading up to a concert (particularly a Christmas concert, it seemed), had some special whir about it – a certain air. It was always enjoyable.
And for the first part of the morning, while Carrie-Bri colored Grandma Comb’s hair for her Normandy lunch, Linnea and Collette discussed dolls over the Pleasant Co. catalog. Meanwhile, Carrie-Bri was preparing for choir. She had hot rolled her hair and piled it up in a vintage Victorian style with large bling diamond studs, her new sunflower sweater, jeans, and stilleto boots. She had also slipped on her new brown and white rabbit’s fur coat and came out for opinions.
“What do you think? Is it over the top?”
“No, no. You look great,” Collette told her. “I mean, if I had come to choir wearing it, it might be a little obnoxious, but on you, it just works.”
Carrie-Bri had a knack for looking perfect in everything.
“Really?” She smiled, a little unsure.
Then the mischievous twinkle came to her eyes and she cocked her head forward and ducked down in her peculiar way, that meant she was a little embarrassed and a little unsure.
“I feel like I’m in junior high.”
Meanwhile, Grandma and Mom discussed finding a brooch for Carrie’s Christmas present. Grandma said she might rummage back at “The Blue Rose” – in particular – the Village of the Blue Rose, where she often bought freshly baked bread from their farm. She said there might be a chance of finding something good, or at the Florissant antique shop.
And later, once the kids were safely home with Clover and three Spritz kids (who all lived out on 79 – the country, and didn’t wish to make the trip back and forth again) there were fifteen pizzas, plenty of apply-cranberry juice, and triple chocolate chip cake to pass around.
While they munched away as it got dark, Collette surveyed the itinerary of Carrie-Bri’s potential trip to China and Tibet where there was duck to be served one night, acrobats in Beijing another night, and one afternoon for the Panda preserve, a monastery and wild rose garden in Tibet, with Potala Palace, the Great Wall, Tian men Square… and various delights.
The day had been a bit of a wash, but not terribly. It was ending with better thoughts and to top it off, Collette had received another letter from Violet Gentles. They lived off the same road; however, it was too difficult to get together, and besides… they were letter people. There was much to write about, and it was always a treat to hear from her.
They had been choir pals for five years and madrigal buddies, both altos. They had enjoyed discussing how well or how poorly the sections were singing that particular Tuesday or keeping up with the latest news in the world, or just in general… discussing plans and what they were doing in school, work…. the usual things friends might discuss.
Then Violet had graduated in 2002 and went to work at the bank. Collette had joined her the following spring, and then Violet had been married that past August, and Collette, precisely six weeks later. It had been such a special time for the both of them, those fun years.
Then there was Bing English… the latest news? His newest composition (an arrangement), had been come across by a musician in Paris (through the Internet) who was willing to purchase the arrangement, or just receive permission to use it. It was quite exciting. And as Mrs. English and Aunt Jo were coming by shortly to see the apartment, she would be able to ask into it. She was hardly surprised. The fellow was pure genius when it came to music composition, and frankly, anything in the classical realm of music.