... Suzie struggled to get Charlie seated in the metal stroller. As always he wasn’t making it easy. His legs stuck out stiffly and it seemed that he was no longer a human baby but an octopus, fingers and toes splayed wide in an effort to thwart capture. Forcing each foot into the proper hole she managed to get him jammed into place and the belt hooked around him. She had won the game. Charlie giggled as they moved toward the end of the dirt drive.

Momma can make the wheels roll down the sidewalk steps in easy little bumps. That is the easier way to go, but the last time Suzie tried it Charlie got a big blue bump on his head from the cartwheel the stroller made on its way to the street. Shoving the contraption through the pine needles Suzie spied Billy playing by the chicken coop. “Billy come on we’re goin’ta get Jennie,” she yelled. “Come on!” Reluctantly, Billy left his Tonka trucks and the brand-new grader in the dirt to climb aboard the back of the stroller. The trail left by the stroller bore witness that one of the wheels was stuck sideways leaving a small trench behind. The weight of the two boys made the going slower but it was easier than trying to hang on to three-year-old Billy while pushing the stroller. At last, they reached the cement of the street and the stroller seemed to lose twenty pounds.

Pushing up the hill the boys giggled at the vibration of the hard little wheels on the rough asphalt. The sideways wheel had become unstuck and now swung freely spinning in response to every bump. The trio rounded the corner going from Pennsylvania onto Leadora and headed west watching for their sister. A quarter of the way to Grand Avenue the Woodard’s yard stopped and the large custom-built homes began. Green and shady yards surrounded low-slung houses with lots of glass, painted in somber greens or browns. Set back from the street with yards maintained by Japanese gardeners, they housed the city fathers’ families. On the right side of the street were cookie-cutter houses each painted a different color to distinguish it from the next. Yellow with brown trim, white with red trim, green with dark green trim, and the obligatory pink with white trim. The color combinations varied but the houses didn’t. They had mirrored floor plans endlessly flipped over and over down the mile long block, three houses for each on the opposite side.

The fourth house was enclosed by a high chain-link fence. Still it always made Suzie jump when the enormous German Shepherd lunged at her barking. Everyday the three would go by and the dog would run back and forth along the fence barking and snarling the entire time. Billy and Charlie held on tightly as Suzie ran past the house seeking refuge from the noise and gnashing teeth.

Nearing, LaFetra Elementary Suzie began watching for Jennie in earnest. Today she was not to be seen. The only people in view were three girls from her eighth grade class. Oh no! sighed Suzie. There like brilliant diamonds stood Jackie, Pam, and Julie in front of the school entrance. In identical pastel cashmere skirts and sweaters to which even their socks matched they shook their perfect heads laughing at some private joke. They’re talkin’ about me, Suzie thought. Jackie’s long blond hair glowed in the February sunshine setting off the coolness of her sage green sweater. Pam wore a rose color, and Julie, blue to match her eyes.

“Hi Suzie,” Jackie called across the street to her. Suzie wanted to shrink away into the pavement. “Hello,” she called back waving. The closer to the school she got the more uncomfortable Suzie became. Jackie’s soft and cuddly skirt was slim as was her sweater both complementing her slender build. Each emphasized the difference in Suzie’s attire. Her cotton dress had a gathered waist and fitted bodice with a ruffle on the collar and sleeve cuffs. Their shoes were the latest style, white nubuck shoes with eraser pink soles. Oh how Suzie wanted a pair of those.

The three girls watched as Suzie made her way to the school entrance. “Hello babies” said Julie as she looked down toward the stroller.

Suzie winced. Charlie was covered with arrowroot biscuit and slobber from teething, Billy was head to toe dirty from his day of road construction. Just then Charlie pulled his foot free and began to suck on his big toe. Hurry Jennie. Please hurry. “The one in front is Charlie and this is Billy,” Suzie said as Billy climbed off the stroller. “Are you waiting for someone?”

“Yes, my cousin goes to third grade here. I have to baby-sit her today.”

“That will be fun.”

“No, I hate baby-sitting. I wanted to do my nails before the dance tonight. Are you coming to the dance, Suzie?”

“I don’t think so.” JENNIE!!

“You should come—everybody will be there! You don’t need a date you know. You can come by yourself.”

“Well maybe. I’ll have to ask my Dad,” Suzie lied. She had no intention of going to a dance. She had nothing to wear and Momma and Daddy didn’t have the price of the ticket. No she definitely was not going to any dance. Looking past the others she saw Jennie skipping down the hall toward her. Thank God. Now I can get out of here. “Come on Jennie, let’s go I hav’ta help Momma with supper.” Inching toward the roadside she plucked Billy up from the pile of acorns he was gathering and told Jennie to hold on to the stroller. “Have fun tonight,” she tossed back to the girls still standing talking.

“Be sure to wear red tonight Suzie. It’s a Valentine dance,” called Pam. The three laughed as Suzie headed home. . .