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Post by Tim on May 12, 2020 11:33:42 GMT -5
Yeah, Tatiana, this is a much better train ride than the last one you were on.
The mention of President Kennedy brings up the image of what is going to happen to him that same year.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on May 15, 2020 8:41:59 GMT -5
Chapter 42
"Welcome to your first view of Chicago, Tessa", said Jack with a chuckle. Tatiana tried not to gape when the train made the approach to Chicago from Indiana the following morning. Lake Michigan was a flat expanse of still water and on the opposite side were skyscrapers nearly big as the ones in New York. "American cities are known for their skyscrapers, it's a Yank thing", said Jack. The train pulled into Union Station twenty minutes later. "Wait until you see the view from the hotel", said Jack enthusiastically. Tatiana was careful to stay near Jack as they got off the train with their bags. Union Station was just as crowded as Grand Central as people hurried about to catch their trains, the barely audible squawks from the PA adding to the din. She was relieved when they left the station and Jack hailed a cab. "The Majestic Hotel", he told the driver. The driver helped them put the bags in the trunk. "Are you British? Reckon we don't get any many British folks here in Chicago", said the driver with a twangy Southern accent. "Yes, from Manchester. And I think you're from the American South, perhaps Tennessee or Kentucky", said Jack. "Yeah, you're right. I'm from Breathitt county in Kentucky, I came here during the war to work in a shell factory. Worked there 'till last year, retired. Now I drive a cab 'cuz I got bored stayin' at home watching White Sox games on TV. Love me some White Sox, but it ain't good for people to be stuck indoors", said the driver. Tatiana could empathize with the driver, remembering being stuck at the Governor's Mansion and then the Ipatiev House, the chronic boredom and feelings of uselessness where anything was interesting, no matter how mundane. She remembered the excitement when she and her sisters had helped the cook make bread rolls or when they had learned to fold towels, such otherwise dull tasks being interesting because of how bored they were. "What are the White Sox, sir?", she asked. "That's a baseball team, ma'am. The White Sox play in the American League and Comiskey Park is on the south side of the city. The Cubs are in the National League and play on the north side, at Wrigley Field", explained the driver. Tatiana nodded. "Baseball is like cricket, except it's slightly faster. I don't watch sport generally, I'm a writer", said Jack with a chuckle. "What sort of writer? Only I ever read is the sports pages and the funny pages in the Tribune, and the Bible", asked the driver. "I'm a novelist, I'm here for a publishing convention", said Jack. "Interesting, don't reckon I met any writers before. I hope you like Chicago", said the driver. Tatiana nodded in thanks. The big skyscrapers of downtown continued as the cab headed eastwards towards Lake Michigan and the Gold Coast. Through gaps in the streets she could see the massive watery expanse of Lake Michigan, shining in the early morning light. Jack paid the driver and had the bellhop take their bags. After they checked in and took the elevator to the top floor, Jack opened the door to their room as she went straight to the window. "Amazing", she whispered. From the room window one could see the rest of the Gold Coast and the wide Lake Michigan. The area around the lake was a ribbon of greenery which made up the parks on the shore, a contrast to the blue of the lake. Fringing the park were wide boulevards flanked by some of the city's most exclusive real estate, shops, and hotels, patronized by the city's elite. Across the lake she could see the vague outlines of the shores of Michigan and Indiana, low dark blue bumps on the horizon. "I always stay here in Chicago", said Jack. "It's lovely. I want to see everything before Monday. I'm making up for lost time", she chuckled. "This is actually a good time to visit because the Von Steuben parade is this weekend. He was a German baron who helped the Yank army during the rebellion against us in the 1780's, it's a big deal here since there's lot of Germans. They came over a long time ago before all the nonsense, they got nothing to do with the Kaiser or Hitler. They're Americans whose families were German", he explained. "Like Mama, before all the craziness", she agreed. "Plus Chicago has a lot of Polish people, more Polish people than in any other city except Warsaw. Other than Mama's family, it's the place where I can use my Polish", he laughed. "I understand some Polish since it's similar to Russian, except for the alphabet. I do wonder if the Polish nobles at Spala resented Papa, since eastern Poland was part of Russia", Tatiana mused aloud. "Probably not, Babcia said that the family was able to keep its estate since they signed a loyalty oath to the Czar Paul, they didn't much care for King Stanislas since he was a Russian puppet. They figured that since the king is a Russian puppet, they ought to have a proper Russian ruler over the country", said Jack with a sardonic grin. "Paul was not one of the better czars, I'm afraid. He certainly took after his useless father instead of Catherine", said Tatiana dismissively. "Perhaps, Catherine was a brilliant ruler. Anyways, it's only nine in the morning. If you're up to it, we could go to the Art Institute. It's got one of the best art collections in the states, the show at the Green Mill isn't until 10 in the evening", said Jack. "Yes, and that parade sounds interesting. While we were in Tobolsk, the town had a big Carnival the few days before Ash Wednesday and we could hear it from the house. Alexei and Anastasia wanted to go and Papa pleaded with the guards but they refused. Does Manchester have these sorts of events?", she asked. "Not really, big parades are an American thing. Our family's church does have a fete on Fat Tuesday when they rent some small rides from a local fun fair and there's booths selling sweets, games of chance where you can win stuffed toys and such. But in St. Stephane there's a big Carnival with a fun fair, costumes, bands and a big church supper, the Latin peoples do Carnival very good", said Jack. "I suppose, you're a hot blooded people", she teased. "Touche', Tessa. Back in my bachelor days, I went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans after I mustered out of the service, that was smashing good fun. There's parades put on by the different krewes, the organizations, some of which are very elaborate. And private and public balls with lots of beautiful ladies and best jazz you'll ever hear. I actually prefer the parades in the neighborhoods, the local people create floats and have local bands performing. The big parades are crowded but fun, the small neighborhood parades can be very charming", said Jack. "That sounds fascinating. But isn't Louisiana part of America?", she asked. "Yes, but it was colonized by the French and then the Spanish, and then the Yanks. Many of the people are of French descent and still speak French even if they have an odd accent. The city itself is only part French but the Cajun areas are very French, many of the older folk still speak French and don't speak much English. So you're learning a lot about America", he teased. "Yes, America is a large and interesting country. Before we were sent to Tobolsk, we had no idea Russia was so vast or had so many different people. It seems as though America is the same way", said Tatiana thoughtfully. "It is. Let's get breakfast downstairs and go the Institute", said Jack.
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Post by Tim on May 15, 2020 11:41:27 GMT -5
Yeah, Louisiana went back and forth between the French and the Spanish, until Napoleon sold it to the U.S. in 1803.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on May 21, 2020 20:47:32 GMT -5
This is where they go: Art Institute of Chicago
Chapter 43
"Don't forget to pick your jaw off the floor, Tessa", teased Jack as he handed her a ticket to enter the Art Institute of Chicago. "Jack, you forget how vast our family's collection was. As children we saw thousands of paintings all accumulated by our family. We weren't some peasant family out in the woods", she retorted with a smirk. "Of course not, Tessa. I'm just saying that the Institute has one of the largest collections of Asian art in North America, if not the Western Hemisphere. I know Mr. Bunbridge, he donated much of the art in the Asian section since he always acquiring new items and the museum is better than having it all go to auction, so that regular people can see it. But seriously, while your family might have collected European art, I doubt they had much Asian art. I wish I could take Mollie, she does see Japanese art at her mother's house in Tokyo but this is a museum", said Jack. "Of course, you would want Mollie to know of her heritage. Are there many Japanese people in England?", she asked. "I'm afraid not, especially outside of London. Unfortunately because of the war, the Japanese aren't well-liked since many British soldiers and civilians were treated horribly by the Imperial Japanese army in Southeast Asia. There was a protest in Manchester last year by stupid wankers when the Japanese lady artist Yoko Ono was to do a show at a local gallery, they were angry that a Japanese artist was doing a show in Manchester and some veterans' groups were angry. Not to mention that her art is very odd, Fluxus stuff. It wasn't fair to her, she was booked to do a show and I suppose someone found her art interesting so they booked her into the gallery. The same thing if it were a German artist, they are here to do a show and I doubt it has anything to do with Nazism. My problem would be with the Nazis, not the average German now", said Jack. Tatiana nodded in understanding. "I see, it doesn't sound fair to Miss Ono if she was booked to do the show. Did you see it?", she asked. "Yeah, Pierre got me tickets via the university since they had a bunch of tickets available. It was odd stuff, odd films and very avant-garde art which isn't too my taste. Miss Ono was a gracious lady and she was surprised I spoke Japanese, she hadn't heard any since she arrived. Don't worry, she's married to an American bloke", he added when he saw Tessa's look. "Good, I don't want my husband running off with a Japanese avant-garde artist", she teased. Jack handed her a brochure and they went past the gift shop and coat-check towards the Asian section. "We can see the rest later, the crowds really like that painting by Seurat with all the dots, French Impressionist stuff. I come here every time I go to Chicago, people don't realize this but Chicago is really a brilliant city. Excellent museums, great Polish food and the best jazz outside of New Orleans", said Jack with a laugh. Tatiana had to agree and her eyes widened in delight when Jack led her to the Japanese portion of the Asian art section. "I think I've seen this one, on a poster", she said as they stopped in front of the famous painting of the tidal wave and Mount Fuji. "Yes, that's a very popular painting and you can buy a reproduction anywhere since it's so famous. It's a Japanese woodblock painting, the printing press arrived later in Japan than in Europe and it was mostly used to make prints of pictures. The Japanese language used to be harder to print on a press than a European language since calligraphy is very popular, writing the letters requires a brush and people like to make the characters look lovely as possible. It's not as good if you use a printing press", he explained. "Papa never did like the Japanese, ever since he was injured there. But they have lovely art, especially the nature scenes", said Tatiana. "Yes, the Japanese are big into gardening, they give Pierre a run for his money in that department. Minako's family's summer home has a Zen garden in the back with gravel, bonsai, a bridge and all of it is manmade. Plus they are the only people in the world who have a festival for cherry blossoms, really. The country comes to halt so people can sit under the blossoms and picnic, Mollie was born when the sakura were in bloom so that's why her middle name is Sakura", said Jack. Tatiana nodded as they stopped in front of a painting depicting medieval Japan during the cherry blossom time. Beautiful women in elegant, brightly colored kimonos held delicate parasols while handsome men in more severe black ones meditated under the trees, some of the men identifiable as samurai by their topknots and swords hanging from their waists. "The samurai loved the sakura, they symbolize transient beauty. You should see Pierre's cherry tree in the spring, the girls love it when it turns pink and the blossoms fall. Soon the cherries should be ripe and good to eat, I can start making pie and cobbler", said Jack. "I took our flowers and gardens for granted until we were in captivity, we had all sorts of roses and lilac trees and they smelled divine. Mama loved her lilacs", sighed Tatiana. "Maybe Pierre can plant a lilac tree, it will take many years to grow, though", he said. "For Maria, lilacs are her favorite", said Tatiana. Tatiana was feeling slightly dizzy after spending nearly two hours with Jack in the Japanese art section of the museum, even if the collection wasn't as vast as those owned by the family before the Revolution. But unlike the collection of European art at the various Romanov palaces, the collection here at the Institute wasn't as awe-inspiring or had the grandeur of the family's art. Instead, the Japanese art on display made her feel more at ease rather than in awe, since as children they weren't allowed near the paintings and had to see them in awestruck silence. The Japanese art here was lovely, but in a delicate, more understated way, not as grand or cold. The landscapes and clothes were delicate and painted in inks and watercolors, the women in their kimonos and black upswept hair elegant yet exuding a homey simplicity in contrast to the grandeur of her family's art collection. Tatiana was especially fond of the silk embroideries and clothing behind glass cases, the silks with the vibrant colors and gilded threads shining under the glass. "I don't think a kimono would fit you, Tessa. Japanese women tend to be very petite and you're nearly 180cm, perhaps custom-made but not in a shop", said Jack. "I know I'm tall, but I'm 177cm, not 180cm. I am the tallest of the sisters, but our Papa's family is tall and Mama is tall too. I don't mind, I have gotten used to it", said Tatiana. "I'm 180cm myself, six feet in American measurements. I suppose that's a good height for a bloke, I could be short and that would be horrible. But seriously, if we do go to Japan perhaps you can get a kimono made for you. Tailors do that, make kimonos and robes for gaijin that can't wear standard Japanese sizes. I have some at home, they're more comfortable than regular pajamas. I didn't pack them because in the states people look at me oddly. Americans like to mind each other's business", he said, shaking his head. After seeing the Japanese art, Jack led them towards the Chinese art. Tatiana found the Chinese sculptures of stylized dragons and tigers to be odd if not downright ugly, since they did not look like any sort of animal she had ever seen before but she did like the textiles and porcelain which she felt was more to her taste. "I know, Chinese artistic traditions in terms of depicting animals can look odd to Europeans but it's their way of showing animals. They do have lovely silks and porcelain, and cloisonné and such. Too bad about their government on the mainland, but it was the fault of the government during the war. They were anti-Communist but more interested in fighting Communism instead of helping their suffering people, plus the leaders were embezzling money. It's no wonder the people followed Mao, people got tired of starving and poverty and Chang Kai-Shek was more interested in anti-Communism than helping his own people. He had to flee to Taiwan, it's non-Communist China", he explained. "I understand, I hate the Bolsheviks for what they have done but I understand. If only there weren't so many poor people...", she trailed off. "I know, governments ought to listen to their people. I've been to Taiwan on book tours, my Cantonese should improve so I can do better lectures without a translator. It's lovely, but I would like to see mainland China one day. The Forbidden City in Beijing is supposed to be like Tsarkoe Selo, that's where the Chinese emperor lived. I'm surprised the Communists haven't destroyed it, but I suppose they need the tourist money", he said dryly. After a quick coffee and croissants at the museum café, Jack led her to the French art section. "French art is my second favorite after Japanese art, then again I am sort of French", he chuckled. "You're half-Waffle French", she teased. "Hah, Waffle-French. Us Belgians do make good waffles, better than the Dutch. The museum has a lot of Impressionist Art and the Academy art before that, smashing stuff", he said. Tatiana had to agree as they stopped to look at some Renoirs. "I love Renoir, especially his portraits of children. The little girls are so pretty. And of course Monet was wonderful, no one draws flowers like him", she declared, pointing out one of his paintings of water lilies. "Yes, Renoir drew children in such a wonderful manner. The little girls remind me of Mollie and Nicole", she sai d: "I know, maybe the gift shop has a reproduction for sale. Renoir and Mary Cassatt were the best at painting children. After we see the French art, we ought to rest up at the hotel and have a late supper since the show at the Green Mill isn't until ten this evening. You are going to see the master at work", he teased as Tatiana smiled in delight.
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Post by Tim on May 21, 2020 23:23:05 GMT -5
I'm guessing these are picture of the actual paintings.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on May 26, 2020 9:47:11 GMT -5
Chapter 44
Tatiana made herself eat her supper slowly as she felt too excited by the idea of seeing Coltrane live later that night. "I know you're excited, Coltrane is a brilliant musician but you ought to relax and slow down. I can do a lot of things but I can't speed up time", teased Jack.
"I wish you could, it feels like I'm a child on Christmas morning waiting for Mama and Papa to wake up so we can unwrap our Christmas presents. When did you first see Coltrane?", she asked, taking a sip of her gin and tonic.
"It was at Ronnie Scott's in London, in 1959 when he on the European leg of his Blue Train tour. He'd played at the Hammersmith earlier in the tour but this was a more intimate gig, I don't like seeing jazz in big venues since the acoustics are all wrong. It was a brilliant, amazing, life-changing performance. I loved his albums, I thought Blue Train was smashing, but he was even better live. I'd heard him play with Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie and I thought he was a brilliant saxophonist, but he became an even better solo artist. He'd played with Davis and Gillespie in their bands before he went solo, a lot of jazz artists start out in other bands before they branch out. It got me even more hooked on his music and I've been a huge fan ever since, I have all his albums and that's not easy since he's always putting out another studio album or live album, he's a very prolific bloke", said Jack.
Tatiana nodded and forced herself to try to finish her supper. However, she loved how animated his face became and how his blue eyes shone with dark purple lights when he talked about Coltrane, his passion for the brilliant saxophonist infectious and lighting up his face with intensity. Suddenly, she felt an odd, warm sensation in the pit of her stomach and a flush grew on her cheeks as she realized he was very handsome when he was excited. It made her realize that although they had to share a bed on this trip, this was the first time she realized her new husband was a very handsome man and that she desired him.
Tatiana ate most of her dinner and drank the rest of her gin and tonic in order to control the blush on her cheeks. "I know you're excited, live music is the best experience if done well. Trust me, Coltrane is completely sober and won't mess up the gig unlike Chet Baker, that was one of the worst shows I've ever seen. It's a good reason to stay off of drugs", said Jack with a shake of his head.
"That's good to know. Jack, we've been sharing a bed and when are we going to get intimate?", she asked.
Jack had reached into his pocket for his cigarette case and lighter and dropped them in shock as he got off the chair to find them. "You're direct, aren't you, Mrs. Lacroix? I think you're a beautiful woman and we are married, but we are staying at a hotel and starting tomorrow we're going to be on a train to California. You would not want to shag on a moving train and I don't trust hotel beds for that, who knows when the sheets have been clean? We'll have a week in California with Diego staying at his house, I want our first time to be special in a nice bed inside a house. And don't force it, it can be a while before we have children. You're only 21 and might want to go to uni, and Skye says woman only have problems conceiving once they hit about 35", he said as he opened the cigarette case to retrieve a Regal.
Tatiana blushed. "I am honest, but not as blunt as Olivia. We're married and that's what married couples do. I'd want to have children, but perhaps once this is all done. Mollie is a sweet girl, but I'm sure Mama and Papa would like biological grandchildren", she said.
"I'm sure, between our family histories we would probably have girls more than boys. I only got one brother but you have three sisters, and your Mum had the same number of siblings, right? Then again, that really isn't an issue anymore unless you're thick and old-fashioned", said Jack.
"Would you mind having all girls?", she asked.
"No, in fact when I was married to Minako I wanted a girl since Eurasian boys often have problems with other people. Eurasian boys are seen as wimpy and weak compared to white boys, and they're not accepted much by Japanese people either. But Eurasian girls are seen as stunning and beautiful by many people and are more accepted, it's unfortunate. Brits tend to think such women are gorgeous and exotic, but Eurasian men aren't really accepted by many people, by either side. So I'm glad Mollie was a girl, it's easier for her", he said.
"That sounds terrible. I'd never heard of that before, but it does make sense when I think about it. The girls aren't seen as threatening and if they are beautiful in the bargain, I could see why a mixed race couple would prefer girls. So you wouldn't mind having all daughters?", she asked.
"No, I'll be happy to have healthy children. And not to be vain, but between us, we would have some gorgeous, smart daughters", he laughed.
Tatiana laughed along and nodded. "You are vain, Jack Lacroix", she teased.
"I know, but I can back it up. Now let's finish up and get over to the Green Mile, the opening act is Pharaoh Sanders. Sanders is brilliant as well, Sun Ra discovered him. He just signed a record deal and he's going to release an album next year, I can't wait. When we get back home, I'll play you my Sun Ra albums, the bloke a genius musician but eccentric as all get out, but many are", said Jack.
The outside of the Green Mill was filled with people waiting to get in for that night's show, the people all chatting happily and buzzing with excitement. Everyone came to attention when the security guard opened the velvet rope to let people in, checking their tickets or accepting payment as people entered slowly. After the coat and hat check booth, the corridor led to a large room with a bar on the left side and a stage at the front as a small crew set up the instruments and checked the microphones. Surrounding the state and bar were small round tables that seated two or three people as the crowd sat at the tables, a few people ordering drinks at the bar or smoking cigarettes.
"Something a little different, wife", he teased.
Tatiana watched as he went over to the bar and said something to the bartender, watching as the bartender mixed different liquors together in a metal container and shook it before straining the contents into two triangle-shaped glasses and adding an olive to each. Jack handed her one and she watched as he sipped it. "It's a martini with gin, not the rubbish ones with vodka. The ones James Bond drinks is with vodka, what sacrilege", he said in mock horror.
Tatiana took a sip of her martini and smiled in appreciation. "It's a martini, gin and vermouth, the classic version. A martini should only be with gin, vodka is an abomination especially since people use Smirnoff which is a rubbish vodka. And I asked for it with Booth's since Beefeater might be too strong", he said.
The crowd became quiet when Sanders came onstage with his band, the house lights dimmed and a few people get hurriedly getting their drinks before going back to their seats. Pharaoh Sanders came onstage with his band, a bassist, a drummer and a pianist. The crowd was quiet with the only sounds being the strike of igniting cigarette lighters and the inhaling of smoke. Jack had lit his cigarette and then hers as they paid attention to the young man in a wool hat as he placed the saxophone around his neck and the drummer played a few experimental beats before they started to play.
Tatiana sipped her martini and nodded in approval as she watched Sanders perform, thinking the young man was very talented. His saxophone playing style had a vague similarity to Coltrane's but with more overblowing and louder, but his playing also incorporated Indian harmonies that gave his odd playing a melodic sheen and an earthy rhythm which made it sound more melodic and even catchy than what otherwise would have been.
The crowd applauded Sanders when he finished and waited as the crew dismantled Sanders' instruments in order to set up for Coltrane's set. Jack went to get them more drinks and a hush of anticipation and excitement went through the audience as the crew set up for Coltrane, the energy in the room slowly building up as people chatted quietly and went to get their drinks and smoke cigarettes.
A rapt sense of quiet and anticipation went through the crowd as Coltrane and his band came onstage, everyone on the edge of their seats. The brilliant jazz saxophonist wore an impeccable black suit with a white shirt and black tie along with his bandmates as he gave the audience a little smile, the drummer playing a few beats before playing Blue Train:
Tatiana nearly forgot her drink as she watched with rapt attention to his performance, the song from his brilliant 1958 album sounded even better live than on record. Her eyes were focused on the band as the music played brilliantly from the stage, the music easily the best she'd ever heard as Jack tapped his fingers on the tabletop in time with the beat.
The concert went on and Tatiana had forgotten her drink by now since the music was so good. Each song sounded better than the last, the band tearing through Giant Steps and then Mr. PC in a medley that last for nearly forty five minutes:
She was in an ecstatic state of euphoria by the time the band finished with a lengthy version of My Favorite Things just when she thought the show couldn't possibly get any better:
She was speechless and nearly faint after the show ended as Jack had to help her up out of the chair. "You forgot your martini", he teased.
Tatiana could only nod as she gulped down the last of the drink, making a face at the taste of the olive brine which had now saturated the martini. "I know, I felt the same way after the first time I saw Coltrane live. Just relax and I'll call a cab, we'll need to rest tomorrow for the train ride", he said as Tatiana still appeared to be in a daze.
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Post by Tim on May 26, 2020 11:07:27 GMT -5
I was thinking if there are any people in this reality who, like in ours, think that the Romanovs escaped their murder. Of course, in this reality, they would be correct.
However, they would expect the Romanovs to be decades older than they are, since those believers would not have factored in the time travel.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Jun 1, 2020 9:26:39 GMT -5
This is the train they're taking: California Zephyr
Chapter 45
"Luckily the dullest part of the trip is going to be overnight, by tomorrow we're going to cross the Rockies and then the desert on the other side", said Jack as they waited to board the California Zephyr. Tatiana nodded, glad at least that the train departed in the afternoon instead of the early morning since they were still tired from the concert last night. She had never thought that anything could sound better than Coltrane's albums, but seeing Coltrane himself live was beyond her wildest expectations. The music was amazing and mind-blowing and just all-around excellent, putting his albums to shame. Tatiana wondered if Olga would have liked it, or would she prefer going to another jazz concert instead. A chuckled escaped her lips when she mused that her parents would mostly likely not have liked the show, since they didn't like jazz or much modern music and preferred classical and opera. "I know, I don't think your parents would appreciate Coltrane's genius, my folks don't. But Coltrane can be an acquired taste for many people, you either think he's brilliant or just noisy", said Jack. "Jack, I think you really are a mind-reader", she teased. "Just one of my many talents, Tessa. And we'll have two weeks in San Francisco before all this, Diego will meet us at the station and we're staying at his place. He's got a big house that he bought cheap on Polk Street, a lot of people moved out to the suburbs and he was able to get the house on the cheap and it's close to his cinema. Plus it's in an area with a lot of queer people, Diego is queer", he said. "Interesting, the only queer bloke I remember as a child was my aunt's husband but we didn't realize it. A year ago, I would have been horrified by meeting with a queer man, now I don't care. Clive and Gavin are good lads, and I suppose Diego ought to be as well", she mused aloud. "San Francisco has a lot of odd people, which is what happens to a gold-mining town. My Yank friends say it's a gorgeous city with a lot of interesting people, and the countryside is stunning. We can explore it as much as you want, wife", he laughed. "Then I want to explore, we're no longer confined in any way", said Tatiana. The train's whistle blew as the passengers got on board the train while the porters placed the luggage in the baggage car. The interior of the train was just like the 20th Century Limited with the same color scheme inside and layout, the seating areas, the dining and club car and sleeping berths with their tiny bathrooms. The only difference was that the dining and club cars had glass roofs and bigger windows since the scenery on this run was said to be the best in the train fleet's since they would be passing the Rocky Mountains and the deserts of Utah and Nevada and then the Sierra Nevada on the way to California. Jack and Tatiana found seats in the club car and waited for the bartender. After fifteen minutes, the train slowly pulled out of Union Station and headed southwest away from Chicago and the bartender showed up. "You going all the way to California, a lot of people like to stop in Reno for the gambling and Lake Tahoe", asked a middle-aged man in a gray suit next to them at the bar. "Yes, we're going to San Francisco to visit a friend of ours. But doesn't Las Vegas have more gambling?", asked Jack. "Yeah, but Reno is more laid-back and Lake Tahoe is stunning. I'm going to Reno to visit some friends before school starts up again, I'm a teacher in Chicago. I'm staying a week in Reno and taking the train back since schools open up in two weeks, I'm going to need it", said the man ruefully. "I suppose, then again I'm not familiar with state schools since I always went to Catholic schools as a child. Lake Tahoe is that big lake on the California border, I've never been that far west before", said Jack. "Yes, my friends have a cabin on the lake and it's a great place just to hang out and relax. They got a boat and it's wonderful just to lay back on the deck and work on your tan, or to fish. The fishing's really good in Tahoe. I'm Gary Reynolds", he said, extending his hand. "I'm Jack Langley and this is my wife Tessa, we're on holiday to see some friends in San Francisco", he said as they shook hands. "Glad to meet you, since I live in Chicago and it's a big city, I'm not going to comment on your accents. I bet as British people you get that a lot from Americans", laughed Gary. "Oh yes, Yanks love British accents, even if it's something like Geordie or Brummie. We decided to take the train across the country since I've never been to the states and Jack wanted to show me the country", said Tatiana. "I gotcha, the USA is huge. It's only seven hours to drive from one end of England to the other, right? That's more than a week in the US", said Gary. "Yes, give or take. That's what I tell my family, America is bloody huge. Luckily the dullest part of the country is overnight", said Jack as Gary nodded in agreement. "Oh yes, downstate Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska is just corn and wheat fields. For the first few miles it's pretty, but it gets boring real fast. It's just corn and wheat as far as the eye can see, all yellow. It's great that we can grow so much corn and wheat for people to eat, but it's boring to look at. Once we get into Colorado, it gets real interesting", said Gary. "Yes, the Rocky Mountains. I've seen pictures but I would like to see the actual mountains, Mr. Reynolds", said Tatiana. "Call me Gary, we're not formal here in the US. Yeah, the Rockies are amazing and gorgeous. The train goes under the mountains and out through the other side via a tunnel, and sometimes the train is on these trestle bridges in between the mountains high up, the view is amazing. Don't worry, they're safe", said Gary when he saw the shocked look on her face. "Oh dear, but why don't the trains go through the valleys?", she asked. "Sometimes they do, but some of the valleys are swampy or are farms so the train can't go through them, or the valley is too steep and rocky to build tracks. Building a bridge might have been the only way to go through the mountains", said Gary. The trio ordered drinks and watched as the suburbs of Chicago passed by the train. It wasn't until an hour later that the train left behind the suburban sprawl of Chicago and headed downstate towards Nebraska and the view changed. Once past the enormous sprawl of Chicago and it's suburbs, Illinois appeared to be a patchwork of farms and small towns with odd Indian-sounding names with the towns themselves having many Victorian wooden houses and the farms smaller ones with lots of horses. Once they reached the border of Iowa the view had become far more rural with the towns more spaced out and fewer in between divided by enormous fields of corn. The corn was nearly fully ripened with the green stalks over six feet tall and topped by vivid golden corn peeking out from the husk, the wispy corn silk gleaming under the sun. Each corn farm seemed to be adjacent to pig farms where the porcine inhabitants rolled about in mud and ate acorns and corn, seemingly oblivious to their final fate in the autumn as they happily gamboled in the mud and ate. "Iowa is known for its pigs, it supplies much of the corn and pigs in the US. I'm from Iowa myself and grew up on a farm outside Davenport, we raised pigs and corn. Since my older brother got the farm, I went to college to become a teacher and got a job in Chicago. At least I don't feed the pigs their slop and don't have to do any more butchering", said Gary with a grimace. "Yes, I suppose it's unpleasant to feed the pigs their rubbish food. And I hope I will never have to butcher a hog, but one never knows", said Jack with a grimace. "It's not pleasant at all, hogs are smart creatures and they know when they're gonna be killed. We have a bunch of guys hold it down while someone cuts its throat and holds it down until it stops squealing. But you can't shoot it since the buckshot damages the meat and it's hard to get out, cutting it's throat doesn't contaminate the meat. Plus one hog provides food for months since we can eat most of it, except for the bristles and bones and some of the skin", said Gary. Tatiana took a hasty sip of her drink and felt very glad that she never had to be privy to butchering a hot, wondering if she could ever eat pork again just thinking about it. "I know, Mrs. Langley. But that's how we get meat, the animals don't just keel over and die. I didn't like hearing the pigs squeal like that, but that's the price we pay to get food. I suppose our ancestors didn't give a darn, and it could be a lot worse if we had to hunt down anything we wanted to eat. Wild animals are more dangerous and they got more parasites, pigs are mostly clean to eat if you cook it thoroughly", said Gary. "I'm sorry, Mr. Reynolds. It's just that I never realized how animals were slaughtered to provide meat, I just thought it showed up at the shop or at the kitchen already. I grew up in the city", said Tatiana. "No problems, ma'am. My students are the same way, they think all food comes from the A&P already wrapped up and ready to eat. They're all from Chicago and grew up in the city, they like to hear how I grew up on a farm and perhaps this year we can do a field trip to a real farm so they can see the animals", said Gary. "That sounds like a good idea, teach the kids that meat doesn't just come from the shops and that farmers raise them", Jack agreed. "I know, and the scenery will improve, trust me", Gary quipped as they all laughed.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Jun 30, 2020 9:10:06 GMT -5
Chapter 46
Tatiana didn't think any view from the train could possibly top the passage through the Rocky Mountains, but she was still speechless as the train approached Lake Tahoe on the California and Nevada border. "I know, Mrs. Langley. Lake Tahoe is amazing, much cleaner than Lake Michigan or the other Great Lakes. The fishing is great and the water is so clear you can see all the way to the bottom", said Gary. "I see that, it's sort of like the Lake District except warmer, perhaps. Too bad we're going through to San Francisco, I hope you enjoy your hols", said Jack. "I will, Jack. You and your wife have a good time in Frisco", said Gary as he shook their hands and left the train. "America is such a beautiful country! I had no idea", said Tatiana in awe. "It is, this is my first time going past Chicago too. I've seen pics and films at the cinema about cowboys, but not quite like this. Perhaps on the way back we can stop in Reno, the nearest big town around Lake Tahoe", he suggested. Tatiana nodded as the train pulled away from the station and circled closer to Lake Tahoe as most of the passengers moved to the windows to get a closer look. From their vantage point inside the train, Lake Tahoe was a gorgeous expanse of brilliantly blue waters the color of sapphires which glinted under the morning sun, dotted by emerald green islands like emeralds set among sapphires. The lakeshore was ringed by sandy pale beige beaches where people lay on towels and sunbathed while small boats bobbed on its surface, their owners lazily sunbathing or waiting to catch fish. Surrounding the lake were brilliantly green pine forests whose dark green foliage acted like an emerald setting for a shining blue sapphire, the whole view more stunning than any postcard "From here the train passes near the Sierra Nevada, that's the mountains the pioneers had to get through in order to enter California. After the Rockies, they aren't as impressive, but from there it's nothing but farms until we reach San Francisco", said Jack. "I still want to see them, the only mountains I have seen are just like little lumpy hills other than the Rocky Mountains. On the way back, I must buy some postcards for the family", declared Tatiana. "Where's our all-so-proper Governess, Tessa?", he teased. Tatiana gave him a look but her gray eyes danced with amusement. "We were in less than ideal circumstances and I had to hold it together, since the family was on the verge of collapse. But now everything is so much better, and this is the first time I have travelled to the states. And I am traveling with my husband", she laughed. "I know, I was just teasing you, Tessa. But you didn't have to be so serious, you are in a better place. Diego will meet us at the station this evening, perhaps tomorrow we can do a bit of sightseeing. My Yank friends say San Francisco is stunning and there's plenty to see, especially if you like East Asian culture. There's a big Chinatown with a lot of shops and restaurants, since many of the Chinese came from southern China they speak Cantonese so I can translate. There's also a Japanese neighborhood and I can take you to a Japanese restaurant, I hope the food is as good as in Japan", said Jack. "I must buy postcards, even if Papa doesn't much like the Japanese", said Tatiana with rueful smile. "The Yanks don't hate the Japanese anymore, ever since they surrendered at the end of the last war. Japan is one of America's biggest allies in Asia and a buffer against Communist China, a lot of Japanese tourists come to California. They especially like San Francisco and Disneyland in southern California, that's a big amusement park with Disney characters. Diego's been there and he says there's a lot of Japanese tourists, mostly big families with kids. They love Disney stuff, Disney films are very popular in Japan and they love taking photos with the people in the Disney costumes. I would like to take Mollie one day, she would like it but I'm a bit old to visit fun fairs", Jack laughed. "Perhaps, I would like for us to travel as a family. Does Mollie automatically become my daughter?", she asked. "Not really, you would have to legally adopt her. I need to ask Minako if it's all right that you adopt her, the other parent needs to give consent and sign a document. It's easier if the other parent is deceased or abandoned the family, but if the other parent is living, it could be more difficult. But I don't see any issues, she would still be Mollie Lacroix. It's more difficult if it's a man adopting his wife's children, there's a name change involved for the child", he replied. By noon the train approached Oakland as the passengers got ready to leave. "Diego will meet us here and then we take the ferry to the city, he says it's far more scenic than taking the bus", he said. The train stopped and Jack led her outside as he scanned the crowd, waving when he saw a young man with longish curly dark brown hair wearing a gaudy Hawaiian shirt and jeans. "Hola, mi amigos Ingelses", teased Diego Torres as he clapped Jack on the back. "Hola, tu bastardo Mexicano grande. This is my wife Tessa", he said. "Hi, glad you made here safely, Mrs. Lacroix. I'm Diego Torres", he said, speaking with a standard Californian American accent. "How do you, Mr. Torres. I have to say, you have an American accent, I thought you were Mexican", she replied. "I was born and raised here in the Bay Area, there's a lot of Mexicans in California. My grandparents are from Jalisco but my folks were born and raised here, I do speak Spanish but it's for practical reasons since there's so many Mexicans in our state. We have to catch the ferry, I don't drive since San Francisco driving is insane, the roads are too narrow", said Diego. The ferry was only a hundred yards away from the train station as Diego bought their tickets and they got in line. A large white boat sat at the dock as the passengers slowly moved forward in order to board. "This is the only way to approach the city if you're not flying, buses are boring. I just take the bus or train if I want to travel, I don't drive. Then again, I only visit LA or San Diego in the state, and I can just take the train. Cars cost money and you need insurance and the license, I don't have the patience", said Diego with a chuckle. They boarded the ferry and soon it was on its way across the bay. "We're going to be passing under the Bay Bridge, it connects San Francisco to Oakland", explained Diego. Tatiana reminded herself to buy a camera since the view from the ferry was stunning. San Francisco was a contrast to the workaday docks of Oakland with its skyscrapers gleaming under the morning sun, temporarily blotted out by the Bay Bridge. The city's famous hills were topped by large, ornate mansions belonging to the city's elite which reminded her of a painting of Rome she had seen in her family's collection, the city looming larger as the ferry crossed the bay. The ferry docked and they followed Diego towards the nearest bus stop. "We could walk but it's a good twenty minutes and there isn't much to see either, just office buildings. When we get to my place, you can relax and tonight I'll take you out to dinner. I can cook, but I want to show you the city. I hope you don't mind but my boyfriend and I live together, he's at work and he'll be coming back in the evening", he said. "No, that's all right. What does he do?", she asked. "Todd is a hairdresser in Pacific Heights, he's amazing with makeup. He has a lot of rich lady clients", said Diego proudly. "That's a good job for a queer bloke", deadpanned Jack. After a short bus ride, Diego led them off the bus and it was only a short walk towards his apartment building on Castro street. At a quick glance it appeared to be an ordinary street in a residential neighborhood with its trees and duplex buildings, dominated by the big red and white marquee of the Castro theater. On closer inspection one noticed the male couples holding hands and that some of them wore makeup and bright colors while others resembled bikers from a B-movie with their leather outfits, the former also distinguished by their beards and shirts open to reveal chest hair. Diego led them towards a pale blue building on a street corner just a few doors away from the theater and opened a door to show them a flight of stairs as he led them to the second floor. "It's got two bedrooms in case family comes to visit, we cleaned it up yesterday", said Diego as he reached into his pocket for the keys and led them inside.
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