David C. McLavic - 6. Chapter 6

The drive to Philadelphia was short. Dad parked the car in a private parking lot, he paid the attendant, locked the car, taking my hand and Beth Ann’s hand, headed into the city and then I knew where we were headed when I saw the Liberty Bell. Mom complained about walking in her heels, Dad told us to stay there, he went and brought a pair of flat shoes from the car. You would think Mom would appreciate Dad doing that, nope. She complained she had to carry her high heel shoes. Dad took them and headed to a rubbish bin. When Mom saw that, I had never seen her move so fast. She took the shoes from Dad. I heard Dad tell her she could still take the train to Pittsburgh,

Our next stop, Independence Hall. There, under glass was the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution. I asked Dad if these were real or copies. “The originals are in Washington, DC. Maybe we should plan a trip there.” I was all for that but I knew Mom wouldn’t go.

Our next stop was Congress Hall. Dad explained that on the first floor members of the House met and on the next floor, members of the Senate met. Of course, Beth Ann and I had to sit in those seats. I looked for Mom but she wasn’t with us.

Leaving the Congress Hall, I started looking for Mom. She was sitting on a bench with another woman who had a small baby. Mom was telling her all about baby care while saying she was the head nurse at the Medical Center at North West University. When I approached the woman with the baby, I looked at the baby, assuming he was a boy since he had blue booties on his feet. When I asked, she smiled and said he was named after his father but we call him, Little Tony. He seemed to be a happy baby. Dad had a coin that looked like a silver dollar. He took it off his key chain and gave it to the woman. He said to remember the stranger in the park. As the woman thanked Dad, Mom got up, “David, let’s go. If we leave now we can make the farm before midnight.”

I have never seen Dad as angry as he was when she said that. He hailed a taxi, literally put Mom in the Taxi, and asked the driver for the fare to the train station. Mom’s face turned red, she got out of the taxi, “I’m not going to the train station.”

I saw Dad give the driver some money. The driver smiled, “Easiest buck I made today.” Dad smiled.

I thought Mom should have realized Dad wasn’t going to the farm, only when he was ready.