HISTORY BETWEEN THE PAGES of An Imperfect Woman
Excerpt from “Goodbye, St. Louis”
“Mary immediately thought of the Chinese vase, beckoning her to a far-away land and mysterious people with gilded pagodas and exotic flowers. Must take that vase. But Mary held her tongue until she and John could be alone.
Elder Mrs. Wood sat rigid, glaring at her husband but dared say nothing. Mary murmured an appropriate and gracious thank-you to her father-in-law. Inside her mind, non-dancing Mary was ready to jump up and strut a cakewalk to the ragtime music firmly frowned upon by her in-laws. Instead, she sent a sweet and painfully demure smile to her fuming mother-in-law. She was thrilled with permission to acquire the Chinese vase; She felt finally superior to her mother-in-law’s meddling and interminable disapproval.”
Excerpt from “Afternoon Tea”
“The rest of the Wood family and Doggie headed for City Park’s lake. John promised them each a lively piggyback ride for good behavior. Mary fretted recent rains would bog down their adventure with bothersome mud. Washing day was almost a week away. ‘John, please. Keep an eye out for slippery banks. Remember, you’re the parent. Therefore, in charge of proper manners.’
The Wood children donned winter coats in a rush, scampered out the front door and caught up to where their father strutted an impromptu ragtime cake walk down the street. Mary heard Doggie’s joyful barking and her children laughing with John playing the pied piper down the street. What on earth will I do with them? And John is the ringmaster! “
