Meet Me in Saint Louis

[This comes from a narrative written by Emmilou Collins Edmonds Adams around the year 2000. Portions in brackets [] were added for clarification.]

Daddy [Carlos Collins]had gotten a transfer to St. Louis which was as near as he could get back to Texas at that time. Trying to fit the pieces together, I wonder if it was already arranged when Carolyn [Carolyn Collins 1923-1928] died. At any rate, Daddy had rented a furnished apartment and grandmother came along to keep house for us. It was very small and about all I remember about it was that the beds folded up into the wall. At least I think both of them did. I know the one in the living room did.
 
School had already started when we got there. I don’t think I remember anything in particular about school. I did have to be vaccinated (for small pox) which was done at the health department. I never did get what they considered a successful take (have it leave a scar) so for several years it had to be done again. I was vaccinated once in first grade, twice in second grade, and three times in third grade. After that one time Uncle Ray [Ray Collins 1889-1984], who was a doctor, thought he could do it so it would “take”. He managed to get a very indistinct scar and I never had to be vaccinated again after fourth grade.
 
I walked a couple of blocks from school home and I remember there were two older boys--probably in second or third grade--who tormented me from time to time. I had the chicken pox while I was in first grade--a very light case. We were hoping I would be all right to go to my Collins grandparents [Albert Buell Collins and Amanda Jane Perryman Collins]for Christmas. At that time the health department could quarantine for communicable diseases. I know the people across the hall were quarantined for the measles. Daddy and I did make the trip the Rio Grande Valley of Texas for Christmas. We went by train, of course. The trip was uneventful, I guess since I have no clear memories of it. One time Daddy got off the train while we were stopped and left me with a lady who had the seat next to me. I was terrified that the train would leave before Daddy got back.
 
One other incident that occurred that year concerned an amusement park. Apparently school children were given some tickets for rides and had a free day from school for it. I must have had to have permission, but there was some misunderstanding. I went out there with a group of kids and their mothers, but eventually I was pretty much on my own. I remember the incident, but I don’t remember the end. Daddy filled me in a few years before his death. Apparently I was wandering around there on my own and some of the park personnel took me under there wing. I was able to tell them who my Daddy was and where he worked, so they called him and he took off and came to get me. I don’t know why I wasn’t terrified.
 
It was during this time in St. Louis that Daddy told me I could have a bicycle when I wanted one. I didn’t really want one then, but I never did get that bicycle nor did I ever learn to ride one.
 
The next summer I went back to Colorado with grandmother and by the time school started again, Daddy had found a room with a family (man and wife) named Belew.
 
We took our meals there too and Mrs. Belew really mothered me. I was enjoying school and looking forward to being a Girl Scout the following year. I don’t think there were Brownie Scouts at that time. I was happy and contented.
 
Then Daddy got a transfer to San Antonio, which was what he wanted, but it uprooted me again, and I was separated from him again. I had to go live with Grandmother and Granddaddy Collins [in Alamo, Texas]. They were wonderful to me of course, but I missed my Daddy.