In Washington County, the first Sunday of October is the last day of the picnic season. Next weekend will be the Apple Harvest Festival; and after that it's just too darned chilly for a picnic. Even now, the air is...brisk.
On Sunday morning, the Blooms attend services at the Church of Nothing. Mary Bloom, the good daughter, rises early, makes a hot breakfast for all, then checks on Mrs. Peabody next door.
During the service, Molly daydreams about Beethoven, Mary fidgets with her "V" necklace, Margaret mentally solves a Sodoku puzzle she memorized and Catherine engages in imaginary conversation with Mr. Fuzzums, who is present but hiding beneath the pew. Mr. Bloom thinks about an advertisement for cheese -- he's pitching the Washington County Dairy Farmers Association on Monday -- and Mrs. Bloom thinks about sex with an athlete.
The Smiths sleep in and chat around the breakfast table.
After church, the Blooms stop at the Smith's house to meet up and mingle. Molly, Roderick and Mary drive to the picnic with Mr. and Mrs. Bloom, while Margaret, Catherine and Mr. Fuzzums drive with Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Catherine, who is delighted to have a fresh audience, talks non-stop about her day so far.
Roderick remembers visiting Ticklish Rock before there was a picnic area -- the tables and barbecue pit were installed a few years ago. The tables are quite close to the rock, which makes some people a little nervous -- if and when the rock rolls free, the tables might be crushed.
Across the road from the picnic area, there is a large plot of ground that is completely overgrown with weeds, vines, shrubs and small softwood trees -- mostly pine and birch. Among the children of Beauneville, there is a widely held belief that if you make your way trough the underbrush, there is a massive cube of crumbling black stone. Roderick doesn't know of anyone brave enough to find out -- the place is creepy, and the children of Beauneville generally stay away.
Mr. Smith and Mr. Bloom serve as grillmeisters, thanks to a shared affinity for meat and fire. They deftly start the fire with a chimney starter, wait for the coals to get hot, then rake them into a bed and start to grill. On the menu today: a mixed grill of strip steaks, chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs. Mrs. Smith brought potato salad and apple pie. Mrs. Bloom brought Jell-O salad and apple pie. The Smith and Bloom offspring brought their appetites.
After the picnic, Molly wants to practice piano, so Roderick calls on Megan to see if she wants to fool around. Miss Cupcake is quite pleased to see Master Smith, and most eager to fool around.
At home, Catherine continues to talk about her day so far. Mr. Fuzzums listens carefully.
Margaret works on Mary's Math homework.
Mary knocks on Mr. Smith's door; it's time for her weekly meeting for 'special help'. He answers the door; Mary steps inside; the door closes.
The reader will have to imagine the scene that follows. Suffice to say that no actual tutoring takes place, that behind closed doors Mary and Mr. Swift get down to their real business quickly; that Mr. Swift finds the combination of Mary's physical beauty and what he comprehends as naivety and subservience to be totally compelling, despite his knowledge that some laws and customs are broken; and Mary finds the pretense of naivety and subservience to be a small price to pay for an 'A-plus' in English.
Mary has discovered that though she is unable to work for cash, there are other currencies that matter. The knowledge makes her happy.
