Liz Marvin - Betty Crawford 03 - Too Long at the Fair Read Online Free PDF
Author: Liz Marvin
adding some authenticity to our performance.”
“To behave like racist idiots and assault people?” Clarise asked as sweetly as her mood allowed.
The captain examined his shoes carefully. “We meant no harm. We’re just trying to behave in character so to speak. It’s all in good fun.”
The union soldier chimed in “What next? You gonna dress up in white robes and pointy hats and claim that’s all in good fun to?”
Wes gave him a hard shake. “Shut up. I’ll get to you in a minute.”
Clarise stepped in. “If you want to play dress up and pretend to be civil war soldiers that’s your business but don’t drag me into it. Besides your uniforms being all wrong and your language being off base your behavior is not only inexcusable today it doesn’t reflect the attitude a southern soldier would have taken during the Civil War. A black person walking openly through a crowd would have been ignored. Period. Because hassling them would have incurred the wrath of the owner who would certainly have been wealthier and more powerful than any of you miscreants and you would know that.”
The captain had the good sense to look shame faced but regained his composure quickly. “See here now what makes you -”
Wes cut the captain off with another good hard shake and enlightened him. “Clarise Birdsong is the director of the Lofton Theater and if she says your costume is wrong and your performance is off then your costume is wrong and your performance is off. Do both of you understand?”
Both men nodded dumbly. “Then I suggest you confine yourselves to barracks-”
“Bivouacs” The Captain corrected, coughing slightly. “Bivouacs are an improvised camp site created for short durations. Sir.”
Wes looked at the man incredulously but Clarise gave a faint smile and a nod and so he continued. “Fine. Stay in your bivouacs while in costume for the remainder of the fair and if any of you so much as speak to someone before they speak to you while in these get-ups you will regret it. Understood?”
The gathered men agreed and Wes let the two men go. To a man each of the Confederate and even a few of the Union re-enactors apologized to Clarise before retreating. Three of the Confederates offered her their headshots with theatrical resumes printed on the back which she graciously accepted.
Once they were gone and the crowd dispersed she slipped her arm through Wesley’s and strolled toward the cooking competition tent. She would have an adventure story to tell Betty when she caught up with her but she wanted to reward Wes first. She pulled him between two tents for a modicum of privacy and kissed him. He kissed her back with just as much fervor. Both were grinning like school kids when they came up for air.
“That was the most excitement I’ve had since – since the first time I kissed you.”
Clarise snuggled up to Wes “We’ll have to do that again.”
“But without the costumed crowd.”
They laughed and hugged. Clarise held him back at arm’s length just to enjoy looking at him. Wes didn’t mind; he enjoyed looking at her equally as much. “Can I buy an officer of the law a thank-you cup of coffee?”
“As long as it’s not a bribe.”
“We’ll see,” she smiled and reached for the money in her back pocket only to discover twenty dollars missing!
~
Betty found herself seated between two large men in blue jean bib overalls. At the far end of the table to her right a slender teen-age boy bounced on his seat in anticipation. On the left a middle aged businessman pushed his glasses up on his nose and looked about self-consciously.
The contest was held in front of the reviewing stand, empty of course. Beyond the stand lay the field. The field was used for every public presentation at the fair. Years ago it had been the site of every sort of competition,
“To behave like racist idiots and assault people?” Clarise asked as sweetly as her mood allowed.
The captain examined his shoes carefully. “We meant no harm. We’re just trying to behave in character so to speak. It’s all in good fun.”
The union soldier chimed in “What next? You gonna dress up in white robes and pointy hats and claim that’s all in good fun to?”
Wes gave him a hard shake. “Shut up. I’ll get to you in a minute.”
Clarise stepped in. “If you want to play dress up and pretend to be civil war soldiers that’s your business but don’t drag me into it. Besides your uniforms being all wrong and your language being off base your behavior is not only inexcusable today it doesn’t reflect the attitude a southern soldier would have taken during the Civil War. A black person walking openly through a crowd would have been ignored. Period. Because hassling them would have incurred the wrath of the owner who would certainly have been wealthier and more powerful than any of you miscreants and you would know that.”
The captain had the good sense to look shame faced but regained his composure quickly. “See here now what makes you -”
Wes cut the captain off with another good hard shake and enlightened him. “Clarise Birdsong is the director of the Lofton Theater and if she says your costume is wrong and your performance is off then your costume is wrong and your performance is off. Do both of you understand?”
Both men nodded dumbly. “Then I suggest you confine yourselves to barracks-”
“Bivouacs” The Captain corrected, coughing slightly. “Bivouacs are an improvised camp site created for short durations. Sir.”
Wes looked at the man incredulously but Clarise gave a faint smile and a nod and so he continued. “Fine. Stay in your bivouacs while in costume for the remainder of the fair and if any of you so much as speak to someone before they speak to you while in these get-ups you will regret it. Understood?”
The gathered men agreed and Wes let the two men go. To a man each of the Confederate and even a few of the Union re-enactors apologized to Clarise before retreating. Three of the Confederates offered her their headshots with theatrical resumes printed on the back which she graciously accepted.
Once they were gone and the crowd dispersed she slipped her arm through Wesley’s and strolled toward the cooking competition tent. She would have an adventure story to tell Betty when she caught up with her but she wanted to reward Wes first. She pulled him between two tents for a modicum of privacy and kissed him. He kissed her back with just as much fervor. Both were grinning like school kids when they came up for air.
“That was the most excitement I’ve had since – since the first time I kissed you.”
Clarise snuggled up to Wes “We’ll have to do that again.”
“But without the costumed crowd.”
They laughed and hugged. Clarise held him back at arm’s length just to enjoy looking at him. Wes didn’t mind; he enjoyed looking at her equally as much. “Can I buy an officer of the law a thank-you cup of coffee?”
“As long as it’s not a bribe.”
“We’ll see,” she smiled and reached for the money in her back pocket only to discover twenty dollars missing!
~
Betty found herself seated between two large men in blue jean bib overalls. At the far end of the table to her right a slender teen-age boy bounced on his seat in anticipation. On the left a middle aged businessman pushed his glasses up on his nose and looked about self-consciously.
The contest was held in front of the reviewing stand, empty of course. Beyond the stand lay the field. The field was used for every public presentation at the fair. Years ago it had been the site of every sort of competition,
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