Fair Weather by Richard Peck

Author:Richard Peck [Peck, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101664391
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2003-03-24T05:00:00+00:00

I didn’t know what to think. It wasn’t beyond Granddad to bring his horse to Chicago. He’d brought Tip. But nobody would call Granddad’s old gray mare the toast of America. Aunt Euterpe snatched at Lottie and me.

Granddad stared open-mouthed up at the sign. Over the din of the crowd I could swear I heard him whisper, “My prayers is answered.”

We got it sorted out. Lillian Russell—the real one—was a woman, an actress. Admiring her, Granddad had named his horse for her. It was the kind of thing he’d do.

“Papa!” Aunt Euterpe barked. “Don’t think of taking these children to see that woman!” Aunt Euterpe’s patience hung by a thread.

Granddad rounded on her. “Would it mark ’em for life to see the prettiest gal and the sweetest singer in the United States?”

“She paints her face!” Aunt Euterpe shot back.

“So does Buffalo Bill,” Granddad answered. “Girl, they’re in show business.”

“Papa, she was barred from the Washington Park clubhouse by the best ladies in Chicago society!”

“They’s hypocrites,” Granddad spat.

“She’s a fallen woman.” Aunt Euterpe stumbled over her words.

“Horsefeathers,” Granddad replied. “She’s from Clinton, Iowa. And she can hit high C eight times in the same song.”

“Papa,” Aunt Euterpe reasoned hopelessly, “that woman has been married three times.”

“She could marry four times if she’d have me!” The crowds around us stared at Granddad, and Lottie went beet red. “I’m goin’ in to see the show,” he said.

“Papa, I am taking these children home.” Aunt Euterpe’s patience had snapped.

“Take ’em,” Granddad said, walking away already, following the crowds into The Columbian Theater.

Confused, Buster called after him, “Granddad, did you bring Lillian or not?”

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