“Put-in-Bay O.” reads the sporty flag that hangs behind
the generations seated neatly: my great-grandma and pa
come a long ride in their best for this–the wedding and
now photo of their oldest daughter, Anne, with Claude.
Grandpa Ira–shy-eyed farmer under bowler hat–wears black,
but bright seersucker, blue-eyed Claude–trolley-runner–sports his
straw hat tilted back, sideways cigar tucked into a grinning maw.
Claude’s tall, out of knickerbockers, both legs well in the long pants now.
Grandma Edna–fancy-hatted, long of dress–rides the chair sidesaddle
in her high-laced boots. Hands rest on lap, she’s glanced demurely to the side.
Annie–Mona Lisa under lace–sits rigid-backed, ankles-shown and legs too wide,
front-faced to the post-card making guy behind his newfangled camera box.
Her eager eyes look amused and wild as if to say, “What’s next? Let’s go.”