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Show Peppermint Konda; Chapter 4: Cousin Barton's Visit Gainesville is a long way from Cleveland, Ohio, and I'm not just talking miles. I've been there twice: once when I was a baby, so I don't remember, and then once two summers ago. The city itself wasn't so bad, in fact it was exciting. Aunt Georgia took .us to the beaches of Lake Erie and to a a big steel mill. It had been a super vacation except for Barton. We had as much in common as Gainesville and Cleveland. Barton is a year older than I am and six years more mature, or so he thinks. I imagine he does own t-shirts and jeans, but I've never seen him wearing them. He prefers dress pants and sweaters. He prefers not to have me around, also. We were only visiting his parents for ten days, but right away Barton and I knew we'd never get along. I think we both knew at first meeting. Barton was arrogant, neat, and proper. I was a squirmy tomboy, loud, and just beginning my awkward stage. We never had a chance. All the odds were against us. Barton's 'father',' as he called him, is into politics. He ran for the United States Senate last election, and lost, but it was a close race. Pa is a republication, and says that's the reason Uncle William lost. Uncle William is a democrat. Ma says he'll try again, and win next time. I hope he does. He's a nice enough man, what little I saw of him. He was always busy with some meeting or some fancy fund raising dinner, and It wasn't even an election year0 Uncle William didn't have enough spare time to fill me in on details, but I think politics might be fun - especially the debating part. He and pa sure spent enough time debating. Barton had never been to see us, and I guess I figured he never would. That was why it came as such a surprise when ma told us he was coming for a |
