So late that afternoon, I left a key for Fred at the security gate and we headed for Sunnyside equipped with a cooler full of drinks, sandwiches, and snacks. Cultural events at the Sunnyside amphitheater are always accompanied by the frequent squish of a pop top being opened. Which makes them more fun.

Mary Alice, the star of the event, had left earlier. She needed, she said, to test the acoustics. I had volunteered to go with her. I was taking the phone threat more seriously than she was. She had turned me down, though, saying she needed the time alone to “center” herself for her reading. We had to tell her a dozen times that she looked fine in her green-and-white silk dress.

She twirled for our inspection. “I didn’t find a black one I liked. You don’t think these white flowers look like supernovas, do you?”

Did she seriously think we were going to say yes?

It was by far the warmest, most seasonable evening that we had encountered on this trip. The temperature was in the mid-eighties long after the sun had set, and the humidity covered everything like a blanket. The breeze that blew in from the Gulf was heavy, and it was no surprise to see lightning far out on the horizon. Almost any night during the summer, enough heat and wind currents collide over the Gulf to create thunderstorms. These storms usually don’t affect the beaches, but they can be spectacular to watch.

So the night of Sister’s reading, we weren’t worried about rain despite the distant lightning. We climbed partway up the embankment and spread beach towels on the grass.

“Lord, it’s hot!” Haley took a can of Coke and held it against her wrist. “I’ll bet Major’s sweating.”

“What about Mary Alice?” Frances examined the contents of the drink cooler. “She was nervous as a cat.”

“She doesn’t sweat,” Haley said. “She exercises self-control.”

“What?” Frances came up with a Grapico. “I love these things. Yoo Hoos, too. We should have gotten some Yoo Hoos, Patricia Anne.” She followed Haley’s example of holding the drink can against her wrist. “So self-control can keep you from sweating?”

“That’s what Aunt Sister says.”

I opened the package of sandwiches and passed it to Haley. “Don’t believe a word of it. Those flowers on your Aunt Sister’s dress are going to get a good soaking tonight.”

“I heard that.” We looked up at green silk emblazoned with exploding stars or peonies. Take your pick. Sister leaned over and looked into the picnic basket. “What did you bring?”

“Pimento cheese sandwiches, tuna fish, cream cheese, chips.”

Sister shook her head no.

“Some grapes? An apple?”

“You got any Tums?”

I handed her a roll from my purse. “You’re not centered yet?”