Aunt Rebecca and the Hat

This story takes place two summers after Andi's Indian Summer. Andi is eight years old and dreads any visit from Aunt Rebecca. This visit turns out to be one of her worst . . . but morphs into what becomes one of her best. 

July 1876, Circle C ranch, California

 

Aunt Rebecca liked to visit us on the ranch. I don’t know why, because all she ever did during her entire stay was complain about the dust, the heat, and the roughness of the surrounding countryside.

Mother said she came because she was lonely. Aunt Rebecca lived in a big old house in San Francisco by herself, with only a handful of servants.

Justin told me she visited because she enjoyed being around family. “She moved out West years ago to be near Father and his family,” he reminded me more than once.

But I think my brother Chad had it right: “Aunt Rebecca visits because she likes being in charge and bossing folks.”

Chad would know, since he likes being in charge and bossing folks too.

Here on the Circle C ranch, Aunt Rebecca had her whole family to boss, and to make sure we all followed the “narrow way.” Her way. Since she was old, nobody wanted to hurt her feelings.

Aunt Rebecca liked surprise visits, but most of the time Mother told us ahead of time when she was coming. That way I would not be caught off guard and do something to disgrace Mother.

This was one of those times.

Melinda and I were waiting for Aunt Rebecca to arrive, trying not to muss our matching white dresses. At least I was trying not to muss my dress. Melinda hardly ever looked rumpled, even when she first woke up in the morning.

Auntie usually showed up with an umbrella looped over one arm (even in August) and a carpetbag at her feet. Sometimes she came bearing gifts.

That was scarier than her list of rules.

She often brought an article of clothing with instructions on how and when and where it ought to be worn. Like the red, scratchy Christmas dress she brought me when I was six years old. I still get itchy thinking about that dress. Aunt Rebecca had given us our matching white dresses on her last visit. She’d written ahead to Mother, suggesting that we wear them today.

I tugged at the stiff collar and peeked out the window. Aunt Rebecca’s carriage was rattling up the driveway to the front porch. I wanted to run and hide in the barn, but Melinda kept a firm grip on my arm. She was thirteen and sure knew how to keep me in my place.

Aunt Rebecca no sooner stepped into the house than she unpacked the gifts she’d brought. My eyes opened wide. She was holding two enormous sun hats. I’d never seen anything like them.

“The California sun is terrible on a young lady’s skin,” Aunt Rebecca said, all smiles. “These lovely hats will protect you. I had them made especially for you girls.”

Melinda and I looked at each other. We didn’t say a word. The hats were so large I was sure I’d fly away like a kite if the wind came up. I looked at Mother. Her lips were pressed tight, like she was trying hard not to laugh.

The next thing I knew, Aunt Rebecca plopped that monster hat on my head. “Adorable!” she exclaimed. “Simply adorable!” Then she set the other hat on my big sister’s head.

Melinda did not look adorable. She looked silly.

Aunt Rebecca beckoned to someone outside. At her instructions, a man hauled a bulky camera, flash pan, and tripod into the foyer. A photographer!

“Come along, girls,” Aunt Rebecca said cheerfully. “I want your likenesses preserved on photographic plates. You each need to stand still for only a few minutes. Then you may go.”

“Mother?” I pushed the brim of the ridiculous hat out of my face and pleaded with my eyes for Mother not to go along with this.

Her eyes twinkled. “It will only take a minute, sweetheart.” That meant, Humor Aunt Rebecca, Andrea.

I stood right where Auntie put me and held the little bouquet of flowers she stuffed into my hand. I hoped with all my heart that my three big brothers would not walk in just then. They would laugh and laugh. My cheeks grew hot just thinking about it.

The photographer disappeared under his black cloth for what seemed like an hour. “Hold very, very still,” he ordered in a muffled voice.

I held still. I felt stiff as a fence post.

Then . . . crack! The flash powder blew up and I jumped. The smell of sulfur made me sneeze. I hurried away, waving at the smoke.

Nasty!

Aunt Rebecca took my bouquet and gave it to Melinda. She stood just as still for her turn. When the crack came a second time, she skipped away from the photographer and snatched my hand.

“Let’s go outside and see if these hats work. The sun is really hot today.”

Not a good idea, I thought. I didn’t want any of the ranch hands to see me in this getup.

I had no choice. Melinda tightened her grip on my hand and led me outdoors.

The hats worked. How could they not? No sunshine touched my face. That hat was like a big umbrella on my head.

Then the worst happened. I heard a snicker.

I turned around to see Chad standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, grinning. “Well,” he said. “Don’t you two ladies look . . .” He snickered again. “Um, well . . .”

“Ridiculous!” I yelled.

“That word did cross my mind,” Chad said and laughed louder.

Just then the ranch dogs ran up for a greeting. Duke bounded into me, like he always does, and knocked me flat on my fluffy-white backside. Instead of licking me, he froze. He backed up a step and yipped. Then he growled. Before Chad or Melinda or I could stop him, he bit into my hat and yanked it off my head.

“Duke!” Melinda shouted. “No, Duke!”

I started giggling.

Good old Duke. He knew an enemy when he saw one. He held that big, floppy hat in his mouth and shook it, growling low in his throat. He put his paw on the brim and tore at it. Maybe he thought it was some kind of mean animal attacking me.

I sat in the dirt and laughed and laughed.

Aunt Rebecca did not laugh. When she saw what was happening, she gave a shriek. Then she rushed down the porch steps and into the yard. “You beast!” she hollered, grabbing the precious hat. “Drop it!”

Duke did not obey. He gripped the hat tighter, clearly determined to win the tug-o’-war with Aunt Rebecca.

Rip! A small piece of the brim tore away into Aunt Rebecca’s hand. Duke, with the rest of the hat in his jaw, took off. He disappeared behind the barn.

I hope he buries it, I thought between giggles.

Aunt Rebecca started to scold me, but Chad jumped in. He picked me up off the ground and held me in his arms, away from her quick tongue. “It’s not Andi’s fault,” he said. “The dog was too fast. There was nothing anybody could do. I’m terribly sorry, Aunt Rebecca.”

Chad didn’t look sorry. He looked ready to laugh.

Aunt Rebecca closed her mouth, but I could tell she was still mad. Without another word, she turned on her heel and marched back to the house. As soon as she was out of sight, I looked at Chad. We both started laughing. Melinda joined in.

Thanks to Duke, I was rid of that hat forever.

-----------------

One more thing, the only good thing that happened that day. I begged and pleaded for Aunt Rebecca's photographer to take a photograph of Riley and me, with our horses Midnight and Taffy. It took some doing, especially after she was quite incensed at my hat being torn to bits by a dirty ranch dog (which is what she called Duke). 

But I promised I'd wear the white dress the rest of the day and be a little lady that she'd be proud of. So, she gave in, especially when she realized the finished photograph would feature me in a white dress and not in my scruffy overalls, and my hair long and not in two braids. 

How could Aunt Rebecca say no to that? 

She gave in, and the photographer took a picture of us in front of the corral. I stood stiff as a fence post this time, and guess what! I smiled too, which is something I did not do inside.  Aunt Rebecca fussed and complained that it was not a perfect picture, since I did not display my hat, but goodness! My hat would have covered up Taffy. 

Aunt Rebecca brought the finished photograph the next time she visited. She had also placed it in a fancy, gold-gilded frame. It was just the right size to fit on the top of my dresser drawers. Riley's eyes got huge when he saw it. "That's as jim-dandy picture," he said wistfully. 

"You can come upstairs and look at it any time you want," I told him generously. 

It really was a grand likeness of my best friend and our best horses. I even gave Auntie a real hug and thanked her over and over.

She smiled and patted my head. 

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