The Sand Castle Read Free Page B

whole month and Mama said it was a blessed relief.” Louise leaned on her sister again.
    â€œIt wasn’t our fault a big wind came up.” Mother’s chin jutted out for a moment.
    â€œWasn’t our fault she ate so much pie and cake, either. That woman could eat, eat like a farmhand. She didn’t eat like that in public but when it was just us, she used her fork like a shovel. I vowed I would never look like that when I sat down at the table.” For emphasis Louise again patted her lips with her cloth napkin.
    â€œYou don’t eat much, Louise. Your prayer of thanks takes so long the food gets cold. You lose your appetite.” Mother teased her.
    â€œJuts, you’re such a Philistine.”
    â€œWhat’s a Philistine?” Leroy asked.
    Aunt Louise removed her sweater as the sun climbed higher, dissipating the dawn clamminess. “What do they teach you at St. Patrick? You don’t know what a Philistine is?”
    â€œApparently, it’s me.” Mother’s red lipstick accentuated her grin.
    â€œJuts.” Louise used her schoolmarm tone.
    â€œJesus didn’t like them,” I volunteered.
    â€œYour Aunt Louise doesn’t like them,” Mother said, a devilish lilt to her voice.
    â€œAll right, mock me if you must, but these children need to learn.” She waited a moment, drama building in her mind at least. “The Philistines used to live in southwest Palestine and they made war on the ancient Israelites. But to call someone a Philistine means they’re vulgar, common, that they only care about material things.”
    â€œOh, like Mrs. Mundis.” I inhaled the odor of the Bay, slightly saline at Point Lookout.
    â€œNow, now.” Louise sounded very charitable but really she liked my comment because Claudia Mundis had more money than God, and seemed intent on spending it.
    â€œYou know, Sis, she’s almost finished with her new garden home.”
    â€œShe’s just nouveau riche and there’s no two ways about it,” Aunt Louise sighed.
    â€œBetter nouveau riche than no riche at all.” Mother fished for a Chesterfield in her straw bag, found it, then dropped a line to find her lighter.
    â€œBlood tells.”
    â€œFor Christ’s sake, Louise, not that again.”
    â€œOur family landed in Maryland in 1634 with Leonard Calvert. That landing became St. Mary’s City and here we are in St. Mary’s County.” Aunt Louise threw out her chest, which was impressive.
    â€œAnd it never put a penny in my pocket.” Mother glanced overhead as a flock of terns zipped along. “Isn’t it something how every bird is different and every kind of bird is perfect for what it has to do? I love watching.”
    Mother hated the Southern snottiness over genealogy. Dad’s family arrived in Virginia in 1620. He never once mentioned it although his mother trumpeted this deathless informationloud and clear. Maybe their disdain for blood arrogance was one of the ties that bound them.
    By seven-thirty the lovely beach started to fill. Colorful umbrellas were stuck in the sand, and blankets were spread out, big striped towels folded to the side. Everyone toted a hamper. Leroy and I noted no kids our age. We weren’t going to play with babies, the worst. The teenagers thought the same thing about us.
    â€œI’m going for a swim.” Mother stood up, stepped out of her shorts and took off her white camp shirt. Her one-piece bathing suit was a pretty melon color, and showed off her figure. Mother could turn heads. She gloried in it.
    â€œI’ll be down in a minute.” Louise affixed a floppy straw hat to her curls. She loved hats.
    I jumped up to race after Mother, then stopped, “Come on, Leroy.”
    â€œNo. Sharks. I saw those fish jumping.”
    â€œAh, that was a long time ago. Come on.”
    â€œNope.”
    â€œCrabs will get you,” I threatened him, and as if to prove