“I thought I told you to lock that hat away because I never wanted to see it again.”
“I did.”
Johnny poked the derby Kinsey was holding out in front of her.
“Then do you mind telling me what is this?”
“It’s a different hat.”
Scott pinched the bridge of his nose to suppress his laugh that would not help the current situation.
“Little girl you have tried my patience one too many times. Scott, I’m going to see if this fancy hotel knows how to serve a common man a few shots of good tequila.”
Having stated his intentions Johnny turned and announced his departure by shutting the door more forcefully than needed. Kinsey and Johnny’s discussion of attending the opera resumed shortly before the train pulled into Union Station. While acquiring their keys at the hotel’s front desk the discussion grew into a disagreement. While locating their rooms the disagreement escalated into an argument, which bloomed into a battle that now inspired Johnny to slam the door and leave Kinsey close to tears while staring at a brown derby hat.
(It was only a matter of time before these two collided and my little cousin just found out she was no match for Johnny’s seasoned temper.)
“He hates me.”
(If you only knew how far from the truth you are with that statement.)
Scott put his hands on Kinsey’s shoulders.
“It’s nothing you said (well, not exactly) or did (not totally true) and given time (and a bottle of tequila) Johnny will calm down. Listen, we are going to this opera.”
Scott took the hat out of Kinsey’s hands and placed it on her head.
“Besides, this looks better on you freckles.” (that part was true)
Scott found his brother in a room off from the lobby where the hotel guests could enjoy a good spirit or a cold beer. Scott opted for the cold beer. Setting himself across the table from Johnny he leaned back, observed the hotel surroundings, and took a sip of his beer.
“Boston, she needs to learn she can’t have her own way every damn minute of every damn day.”
Scott remained silent. (sip)
“Did you hear her call me closed minded?”
Silence. (sip)
“You’re the one who spoils her, Scott.”
Silence. (sip)
“She can’t make me into someone I’m not.”
Silence. (sip)
“I think I might have made her cry.”
Silence. (sip)
“Damn.”
Johnny stood up. “She in her room?’
Nod. (sip)
“There better be at least one rabbit pulled out of a hat during this opera tonight.”
Smile. (sip)
Johnny crossed his arms and leaned in the open doorway to Kinsey’s room watching her unpack and waiting to be acknowledged.
“Half pint, are you ignoring me?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve come to fetch my hat for tonight.”
Without turning around Kinsey pointed to a small table in her room. Approaching the table Johnny picked up his brown derby hat that had recently experienced the bottom of Kinsey’s foot.
“I believe my hat has met a woman’s scorn.”
“A woman’s scorn. Now there is a topic I’m sure you are very familiar with Johnny.”
“Kinsey, I’m trying to apologize to you.”
“You need more practice.”
“Agreed.”
Stepping in her path to her suitcase Johnny placed one hand on Kinsey’s shoulder and the other hand under her chin to give her a gentle kiss.
“Kinsey, I apologize for losing my temper.”
It took a moment for Kinsey to register what just happened.
“Apology accepted. And I apologize for stepping on your hat. (pause) Twice.”
Johnny grinned.
“Apology accepted. I think this one was Scott's. I’m sure it can be fixed.”
As Johnny turned to leave he noticed a dress was laid out on the bed.
“You’re going to look real pretty tonight, half pint.”
The opera was truly magical…even Johnny admitted it was downright agreeable. What Scott found most entertaining was watching and listening to Kinsey throughout the evening. She was mesmerized by every sight and sound.
(It’s like she’s taking photographs in her mind.)
Soon the “people watching” started.
“Scott. Third row. The young lady. She’s smiling at you.”
“Look at that man. He has shifty eyes. Do you think he’s a spy?”
“That couple is in love. I’m sure of it.”
“Scott. The young lady. Don’t look. Wait. Okay now look.”
At one point during the opera Kinsey leaned over and whispered in Johnny’s ear. “This is what an angel sounds like in heaven.”
She said it with such conviction Johnny knew it to be true.
With Kinsey in the middle, the three concertgoers locked arms and walked back to the hotel. Chattering all the way down the street, through the lobby, up the stairs and as Scott guided her into her room Kinsey was still reliving the evening as he wished her “Goodnight”, “Go to bed”, “Now” and shut the door behind her.
(Culture is exhausting.)
The next morning a loud banging on her hotel room door startled Kinsey from a sound sleep. Turning the doorknob she discovered Johnny as the source of the disturbance.
“You are going to wake up everyone in this hotel!”
From down the hallway a distant voice was heard. “Too late.”
“Get dressed darlin’. We’re going riding to take in another kind of heaven. Scott’s finding us horses right now. You got thirty minutes. And oh…by the way….here’s your hat for the day.”
Kinsey examined what was placed in her hand. She had never seen such a sorry looking beat up cowboy hat in her life.
She loved it.
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