The festivities are in full swing as the sweltering sun shines down on New Brighton. This morning's parade was a spectacular affair!
The band marched as the children waved flags. The crowd dressed in their best tailor made summer attire.
The train is rolling into town with the holiday tourists from Pittsburg. I hear the hotels in town are at full capacity. The orchestra is playing at Junction Park and all of the amusement park rides are operating today!
Junction Park is the place to be this afternoon! While I enjoy the carousel, my parents get lost in conversation with the fellow community leaders.
My cousin Claudette is visiting with us for the next few months and is arriving this evening by train.
Claudette is a horrible woman.
Her high pitched cackle can shatter glass and she never shuts up!
Claudette craves attention and finds herself often in the middle of unnecessary chaos. I am always told to ignore her ridiculous behavior.
Claudette has no house training and is the perfect example of what type of woman to never be. I think it is silly for a woman to be so obnoxious!
Like always, I have the honor of keeping Claudette out of harm's way and enjoying her stay at the dollhouse.
She will be staying in my room, so I put fresh linens on the bed and emptied some space in the closet. Claudette's last visit included a full blown tantrum over lack of closet space and I was not in the mood today.
I neatly tucked away my mannequin. She need not see my newest design, as she will insist on wearing it.
I never liked Claudette.
And if it was my decision, she would be staying across town in a hotel.
Claudette is a cruel, young woman. She is educated but lacks social skills. She feels entitled to be catered to.
The slowing down of the carousel brings me back to the present. Watching the community enjoy their day together, lifted my spirits and I easily forgot about Claudette. We all did!
As I arrived back at the dollhouse, I was met in the foyer by Claudette. She was all out of sorts because she was not met with a welcoming celebration in her honor.
As she rambled on complaining, twirling her pearl necklace around her claw like fingers, I found myself envisioning opening the front door and throwing her luggage into the street. I could not help but laugh. She returned my laughter with a silent scowl, never bothering to ask what I found so amusing.
I dreaded Claudette's visit every year. Mother always would chuckle and mutter under her breath that she is looking for a husband again and she thinks she will find one here, in New Brighton. Her parents were worried that she would never find a husband and she hoped she would snag a weathly, handsome entrepreneur.
Her entire stay always included us taking her to every town event. And at every event, she embarrasses herself.
Claudette's beauty is only surface deep. Her blue eyes and crimson hair remind many of the Irish tales of siren's stealing men's souls. Her southern accent has no charm and her cackle is ear piercing.
She insists on being pampered and treats others poorly.
She speaks down to everyone.
Her conversations lack substance.
She does not carry herself with grace.
She has no moral code of ethics.
She loves to gossip.
Claudette brags about being the best at everything. She manipulates those around her into doing whatever she wishes. She does not know what accountability or true accomplishments feel like.
She never gives compliments, only voices complaints.
And if liquor is being served, you will find her waving her silk handkerchief in the air, cackling while gripping her glass, sitting atop a piano.
She wants to be famous.
Famous and wealthy without doing much of anything is her goal.
With enough spirits, Claudette transforms into quite a show. Her high pitched cackle echos like a banshee as she twirls her pearls with her claws. She does not have a beautiful singing voice. Her voice screeches like a crow as she belts out her notes, getting louder and louder with each word.
Obnoxiously proud she stands. Her red curls bounce wildly as she adds her uncoordinated dance steps.
She expects a round of applause and a plea for another song. She always enjoys her few minutes in the limelight!
After a few months of her antics, I am delighted to see her go. As I helped her staff gather her belongings, I heard the cackle from the great room.
Screeching in excitement, her words were difficult to understand at first.
Then I saw Vincent. He was grinning like a sly fox. His success with banking had led him to New Brighton and societal pressures had him on the hunt for a wife.
Claudette had finally done it! This visit she snagged herself a suitor! She was now going to be my neighbor. I handed her a cigar and a glass of whiskey. And the piano began playing. She was no longer my problem!
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