October 23, 2024
Claudia’s Story Part 2:
Three hours later Matthew carried the red Radio Flyer wagon with wooden slat side railings down the stairs. Claudia followed holding Michael’s left hand and carried Mark on her hip. Safely at the bottom, Michael clambered over the sides of the wagon while Claudia placed Mark at the front. It was time to walk Matthew to school. Although he insisted he didn’t need her to go along, it was still time.
Matthew dressed in brown pleated trousers and a white cotton shirt pulled his brothers in the wagon. When they were but two blocks away from the elementary school, he relinquished the wagon’s handle to his mother. Without asking questions, Claudia pulled the wagon to the end of the sidewalk that led to the school’s entrance.
“Did you remember your spelling book?”
“Yes, it’s in my satchel.”
“Here’s your lunch. Not much. Sliced cheese and bread. Oh, and carrot sticks and an apple,” Claudia said holding out a paper bag.
Matthew took the sack begrudgingly. “That’s what I had yesterday.”
“Well, I’m sorry. I do my best. You should be thankful to have this!”
Two cute spunky girls who looked Matthew’s age…fifth graders…walked past. One smiled bashfully; the other giggled. Matthew’s eyes darted toward his mother. His glare harsh enough to freeze any words forming on her tongue.
“Okay, we’ll see you this afternoon,” Claudia said, suppressing a smile.
“You don’t have to come get me! I can walk home on my own!”
“How about we wait for you on the corner?”
Satisfied, Matthew walked fearlessly up the sidewalk into the school building. When did her son become so independent? At what age were children embarrassed being with their mothers? Claudia missed the days of receiving countless hugs or holding him on her lap hours on end. She glanced over her shoulder at Michael and Mark…five and three. Michael, completely imprisoned within his own world, watched as school-aged children hurried by. Mark looked up and smiled his sweetest smile. Maybe she still had time with these two.
“Let’s go to the park. What do you say?” Claudia asked cheerfully.
Mark clapped his pudgy hands together.
“Yeah!” Michael exclaimed.
Claudia pulled the wagon down the sidewalk and crossed the street at the corner. The park was just four blocks away. The day was beautiful…the weather mild even for January. Before they moved, Alan told her there wasn’t really any wintry days of concern here. Weather similar to their eleven years in Beaumont.
“Look at that big tree, Mommy!” Michael pointed as they entered the park.
“Yes, it’s a palm tree. Tall, isn’t it? There are more…let’s count them.”
Michael counted. “One…two…three…four. Oh, Mommy, look! Swings!”
Claudia stopped. Michael propelled himself out of the wagon. As she helped Mark from the wagon, Michael dashed toward the swing set. Claudia placed Mark on his feet and followed the toddler as he ran after his brother. The set held three wooden seats. One was occupied by a little boy.
“Push me!” Michael cried as he plopped onto a vacant seat.
A young woman with light brown shoulder-length hair and a slim build gently rocked a two-seat black baby stroller. She stood near one of the twenty-foot palms and watched the boy who sat on the seat next to Michael. The boy who looked Michael’s age pumped his stout legs back and forth in an effort to swing higher.
Claudia smiled at the woman as she placed Mark in Michael’s lap.
“Michael, hold your brother! Hold on, Mark! Here you go!”
The boys gleefully waited for Claudia to pull the two ropes attached to the seat toward her. She gently pushed at Michael’s back as the swing’s momentum brought the boys back within reach. Mark giggled as the swing moved back and forth; back and forth.
“Sadly, after the war started the park was raided for metal parts. Someone took all the chains and metal seats. Only the frame remained for several months until some of the dads in the neighborhood added the ropes and wooden seats. Oh, I’m Mallory Jenkins…by the way.”
“Claudia Woods.”
“New here? Haven’t seen you before. My boys and I come every morning. Nice to get out of the house, know what I mean?”
“Yes, I do. Moved here three weeks ago from Beaumont.”
“My husband Dave is in the navy. We’ve been here a year.”
“My husband is a traffic controller at the Port.”
“Nice.”
At the sound of whimpering simmering within the stroller, Mallory lifted out a toddler and placed him on her hip. “This young man here,” she said slightly bouncing the child in an effort to soothe his whining, “is Greg. The one on the swing is Jack. And the baby in the stroller whom I hope is still asleep is Rudy. Seems you just have boys, too. Just the two?”
“I have three. Matthew is in the fifth grade at Menger. Michael is five; Mark three.”
“Jack starts to school this fall. Maybe he and Michael will be in the same class. Greg is two; Rudy six-months. We live at the La Armada.”
“We do, too! On the second floor.”
“We’re on the third.”
Claudia smiled at the young woman whose openness and friendliness were exactly what she needed…what was missing…a female companion…a friend.
When the boys tired of swinging, they all moved to a sandbox positioned behind the swings and near the slides. Claudia and Mallory sat on a nearby bench facing the bay and watched the boys play.
The sun’s bright rays warmed Claudia’s face as she looked out toward the water…a kaleidoscope of blue hues with only occasional ripples lapping against the last step of the concrete sea wall. Feathery white clouds which seemed to break away from puffy cumulus clouds whisked across the blue sky. A dark shadow in the center of the bay bobbed along with the current. Claudia realized the shadow a reflection from the large cloud floating directly above it. She breathed in deeply. Something indescribable about the smell of salty sea air. Gray and white gulls soared overhead and called out in high-pitched screeching cries.
As the women continued to visit, they learned they shared so much in common…grew up in small farming towns out of state; moved to Texas while in high school; married and started families at a young age; moved to Corpus because of their husband’s jobs.
“Oh, the time!” Claudia exclaimed. “I still have grocery shopping to do.”
Rudy began to cry. “We need to go, too. I knew Rudy wouldn’t last long. His tummy is only set on a three-hour timer!” Mallory laughed. “Will we see you tomorrow? Maybe we could take the boys for a walk down to the end of the pier.”
“Yes, that would be nice.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fun Fact:
The Radio Flyer Wagon was created by Antonio Pasin, a 16-year-old Italian immigrant who arrived in America in 1914 and began working as a manual laborer in Chicago. By night, he built little red wagons and sold enough of them during the day to found the Liberty Coaster Company in 1923, named after the Statue of Liberty in the New York Harbor. His wagons sold for less than $3 each and even during the Great Depression, he sold around 1,500 per day.
https://www.backthenhistory.com/articles/the-history-of-the-radio-flyer-wagon
I’m sure every American family owned a little red wagon. My family certainly did. We’d take our red wagon to our city park and ride down the hills…more like bunny slopes…holding onto the tongue of the wagon as someone pushed from behind. To a kid riding in a wagon down a hill of any size was adventurous and held just the right spark of danger.
Were you aware there are nine species of palm trees in Corpus Christi? Where did they come from? Well, the website www.eyeandpen.com tells us. Spanish missionaries brought the first palm tree plants to the gulf coast cities during the 17th and 18th centuries. The missionaries knew the value of the palm tree. They provided shade, their fronds when woven together provided shelter, and their fruit provided food. Over time the palm tree transplants adapted to the coastal climate and became a part of the local landscape. When you’re driving to Corpus and see the towering palm tree’s fronds swaying in the breeze, you will know you’re nearing the coast.
Another fun fact is about the history of La Armada Apartment Complex in Corpus Christi. The construction of the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi brought a large number of military members, civilian employees and their families. From 1940-1941, Corpus Christi’s population increased by thirty percent making it the fastest growing city in Texas. The La Armada apartments were built to help address the housing shortage. The complex comprised of 250-units and was located on Ayres Street. It was the first of four projects undertaken by the Housing Authority. These properties have since been modernized and the Housing Authority continues to use them for affordable housing.
Claudia’s Story Part 3 will be posted Friday, October 25th.