“It’s called a pounding. Everyone brought a pound or two of something to help set up our kitchen. They even brought cleaning supplies. It was quite a kindness, as it saves us having to spend a great deal to stock up on staples in order to cook properly. Or clean, for that matter. One of the ladies gave us five pounds of soap she’d made.”
“Interesting.” He poured tea for himself and then looked at Susanna. “Tea?”
“Yes, please.” She took a chair at the table and wondered how much longer Gary would be.
“And your mother ... she accepted these things graciously?”
“I don’t think she fully comprehended what was going on,” Susanna admitted. “However, the heat started getting to her, and she became rather faint. We needed to leave early to get her home, and Mrs. Payne suggested her gardener could bring Mother in a wheelbarrow.”
Her father nearly spilled the tea. “She what?”
Susanna smiled. “You heard me right. There was no carriage or wagon to bring her home in, so Mrs. Payne suggested the only thing she could. It perked Mother right up, and she walked back without difficulty.”
The edge of her father’s lips curled. “I’m sure she did.”
“Mr. Payne brought the food goods and soap just a little while ago. It really was the greatest kindness.”
Her father nodded. “I suppose a small town like this has its strange practices.”
Susanna heard her brother coming from the opposite side of the house. He had changed his clothes but hadn’t dressed for dinner as he might have in Topeka. He wore a button-down shirt without a starched collar and had simply tucked it into a pair of tan trousers. He wasn’t even wearing shoes.
This garnered a look of reproof from Father, who was dressed in a full suit with vest and tie. “We are hardly barbarians, to come to the table in such a state,” he declared.
“I figured you’d rather have me here than wait for me to properly dress,” Gary replied. “Besides, what’s the purpose in dressing for dinner here? We aren’t going to be entertaining the governor.”
A small lizard of some sort skittered across the tile floor, causing Gary to startle and do a little dance.
“That’s why we wear shoes,” Susanna interjected. “It could have been a snake.”
Gary scowled. “We didn’t have these problems in Topeka.”
Father’s face reddened, and Susanna feared there might be a fight between them. Ever since Father had lost his money, Gary had lost his respectful attitude.
Susanna offered to fill her father’s plate and then Gary’s with the enchilada creation. The two men sampled it hesitantly, but upon tasting the dish, decided it was acceptable and dug in. Susanna loved the spices and flavors that came from the casserole. She would have to find out how it was made. She had learned alot about cooking during her marriage to Mark. He had liked simple fare, but from time to time she had experimented using one of the cookbooks she’d been given as a wedding present. Mark had heartily approved of her adventurous nature, even if there were one or two dishes he received with less enthusiasm than others.
“This is really good. I like it a lot,” Gary said, passing his plate for more. “I tried something called a tamale at work today. It was a lot of ground corn on the outside and meat inside. They were really hot with spices that made my eyes water. The fellas laughed at the way I could hardly eat it. Owen said I’d get used to the spices in time.”
“How was your workday?” Susanna filled his plate and handed it back.
“It’s hard work. Hot too. So hot. I don’t know how a man bears it, but I did.” He puffed out his chest in pride. “Owen took me to the river afterwards. A lot of the men go swimming there, while some go for cold beer and to shoot pool. I might try that tomorrow.”
“You’re too young to be drinking until all hours,” Father said. “I won’t have a drunkard as a son.”
“I don’t intend to be a drunkard. But I do intend to make friends. If we have to live in this horrible town and work for a living, I intend to make the best of it.”
“Good for you, Gary. Friends are important. I’m sure Owen will be a good one to have.”
“Aw, he’s my boss. I can’t really be friends with him.” Gary reached out to stab a slice of tomato. Next he took several cucumber slices, some ham, and finally a slice of bread. “But the boomers are there, and they’re good to me. I can go with them to play pool. I guess there’s poker too, but that’s done in backrooms. It might be illegal, but I don’t know for sure, ’cause it seems all the men know about it and do it. I guess a lot of money changes hands.”
“Poker, eh?” Father murmured.
“Well, don’t get yourself in trouble.” Susanna began to prepare a plate for her mother. She knew Mother wouldn’t appreciate the enchilada casserole but put a tiny bit on the plate anyway. She then added ham and some of the fresh vegetables and placed some bread and butter on the side. “Do you suppose Mother would like iced tea or hot?” she asked, knowing the answer but hoping to draw her father into considering that his wife had once again taken to her bed.
“I guess hot tea, but the day has been so wretchedly warm that she might prefer the iced. Maybe start with it.” He shook his head. “The hotel is rather warm. I don’t know how Harrison thinks people are going to want to stay there.”
“It cools down in the evening, Father. I find it rather comfortable at night.” Susanna poured her mother iced tea, then stood to fetch another tray. She arranged the food for her mother, then remembered to grab silver and a linen napkin at the last moment. “I’ll be right back.”
She went to the bedroom door and gave a light knock. Her mother’s voice was barely audible. She was trying to prove how weak she was to whoever was coming to see her.
