Eugenia's Embrace

Alison's eyes darkened. "Nothing," she murmured.

"Is it about three o'clock?" Eugenia asked, again watching the crowd assembling thickly, anxious, like a small child.

"Yes. It is," Alison said quickly. "And listen. I think I hear music already. And look. There are some clowns."

Eugenia's eyes widened like a child's. She had not seen a clown before, and most definitely not a parade. She stood mesmerized by it all, the colorful faces of the clowns, floats with gorgeous, streaming banners passing below her, two brass bands, each person attired in red striped uniforms with towering hats on each of the musician's heads, tassels flopping clumsily with each step taken. And the ponies! So beautiful! Ten Shetland ponies that were drawing the attention of the smaller children who dared to venture onto Myers Avenue without their parents and the bloodhound dogs running around, barking, making a nuisance of themselves.

"Why this parade? Today? Is it to celebrate Christmas?" Eugenia asked, almost in a whisper.

"No. Like I said, it's always for a show that's to appear in the Opera House."

"What presentation could be so great to have such a parade to show it off?"

"I heard it's to be Uncle Tom's Cabin," Alison said, squirming in closer to Eugenia to take a better look below her.

"Uncle Tom's Cabin." Eugenia sighed, remembering reading the story so often by light of the fireplace late into the night, when she had lain alone in her Mama and Papa's living room. She had been so innocent then, really such a child.

A knock at the front door below drew Eugenia's attention away from the parade. "I imagine it's the delivery boy," she said, going to her purse. "Here. Give him a dollar tip for his services." She.

wondered if these small delivery boys had any idea at all of the seriousness of their deeds, working as dope runners, as Alison had said they were called.

"All right," Alison said.

"Then hurry and give Dawn her injection," Eugenia said, walking with Alison out into the hallway. "Come for me, downstairs, when you're sure Dawn is comfortable."

"Yes, ma'am," Alison said, and hurried down the steps ahead of Eugenia.

Eugenia paused at the head of the stairs to let Alison handle the transaction without any interference. Then she sighed with relief when she heard the door shut once again, and smiled knowingly at Alison as she passed by her, heading toward Dawn's room. Something tugged at Eugenia's heart, knowing what Alison was going to have to do to Dawn. How horrible it must be, she thought to herself, then' lifted her skirts and walked into the parlor.

"Madam Eugenia," Nell squealed, running toward her. "Isn't it all too beautiful?"

Eugenia paused and looked around her. Everywhere she looked she could see colorful crepe paper of green and red twisted and turned and tacked to the top of the doorways and windows, and tinsel sparkling in gold and silver beneath the bright lighting of the crystal chandelier.

"The tree is ready for decorating," Laura said, going to Eugenia, clinging to her arm. "Where's Dawn? We're anxious to get started on the tree."

Eugenia clasped her hand over Laura's, and then patted it, as though she were the child and Eugenia the mother. "Dawn isn't feeling so well this evening, girls," she said loudly, trying to be heard above the Christmas music being played on the victrola. "We must proceed without her, I'm afraid."

"But Christmas Eve won't be fun without Dawn," Nell said solemnly. "Can't she come down for only a minute? Maybe just enough time to watch us decorate the tree?"

Eugenia looked from one girl to the other, seeing something in their faces quite different from what she had ever seen before. They had been transformed into small children on this one special night. Children even possibly thinking of Santa Claus. It did appear that way to Eugenia. It made her heart go out to each one of them, knowing that this life they led had to be one of sadness, emptiness, loneliness. She looked toward Laura, then Nell. Nell and Laura, both so sweet and innocent. Nell had found some spark to life with her relationship with her friend Iris.

"Nell?" she said softly.

"Yes, Madam Eugenia?"

"Why don't you go and get your friend Iris to help you girls decorate the tree?"

Nell gasped noisily, flipping her skirts up into the air as she twirled around. "Really?" she asked, stopping to eye Eugenia, almost pleading.

"Really." Eugenia laughed. "Now off with you. Go and get her." She watched as Nell left the room, then she felt a presence at her side.

"You know you're asking for trouble, don't you?" Pearl said, frowning, as she was turning a round tree decoration between her fingers.

"I don't know what you mean."

"If Iris is allowed to come in, all the rest will feel they should have the same privilege."

"And what's wrong with that?" Eugenia snapped.