The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Forced to enter one of her handiworks in a competition at the Fentress Fair, Callie shows her options to Viola and her mother. Callie’s mother reluctantly chooses an asymmetrical lace collar, and she absently asks if they have to put the family name on it. Travis enters his pet rabbit, Bunny, in a fur competition, and Sam Houston enters a portrait of President McKinley made out of pecan wood in a whittling contest. Callie thinks that it is going to be a wonderful day because she is going to the fair with 15 cents to spend. After Callie drops off her handiwork entry, she explores the fair and notices that Mr. Hofacket has a photography booth, but she avoids him because she has not answered his letters asking about the plant they sent to the Smithsonian. As she makes her way back to the Domestic Arts tent, Callie hears her name being called as having won third place in her division; Lula wins first place. After being awarded a white ribbon, Callie goes to look at the other entries and finds that there were only three of them in total. She leaves the tent feeling unhappy, but she is unsure why.

Callie waits in line with Travis to purchase their first Coca-Colas. The postman, whom Callie dislikes, advises Travis to breed his rabbit for money after winning first place in his contest. Travis and Callie are shocked to find the Coca-Cola bubby, sweet, and delicious. They buy two more glasses each. Callie becomes extremely giddy after finishing her drinks and sets off to find her grandfather. As she walks toward the machinery tent, she runs into Harry, who is walking around with Fern Spitty. Harry tells her that their grandfather is in the tent sitting right next to an “auto-mobile.” Callie sees the automobile and is mesmerized by it. She finds her grandfather attempting to buy the machine, but the man refuses. Granddaddy pulls Callie into the car with him, and she looks at it in wonder.

Once they leave the car, Granddaddy pulls Callie outside of the tents, and Callie feels lightheaded and overwhelmed. Grandaddy now wants to purchase an automobile himself. He notices that Callie does not look well and asks if she is okay. She states that she is, but promptly faints. She is awakened by cold water on her face and sits up. Her grandfather asks her a fact about science to see if she is okay; she answers this correctly. The family promptly gets Callie a glass of lemonade and ushers her home; Harry and Fern Spitty accompany her. At home, Viola sends Callie to rest in her room. Callie reluctantly agrees. Viola brings her up a cup of tea and notices her ribbon. When she asks how Callie could have won a prize, Callie states that there were only three contestants. Viola tells her that she doesn’t have to tell anyone else that information.

As Callie’s parents arrive home from the fair, Harry assures them that Callie is okay; Callie meets them at the door, trying to seem as cheerful as possible. Mother is happy that Callie received a prize, and her brothers ask why her ribbon is white and Travis’ is blue. She loudly explains that she got third place out of three contestants, but her mother doesn’t seem to listen. Callie asks where Harry went and is told that he went to walk Fern Spitty home. Callie is immediately intrigued, but her mother tells her nothing.

A few days later, Harry goes to dinner at the Spittys’ home once more. The following Sunday, Fern’s family comes to Callie’s house for tea. Callie finds Fern much more attractive and appealing than Miss Minerva Goodacre. Callie and the other children are sent outside during tea, and Callie spends that time with her grandfather. Callie decides to ask him about his wife, and he tells her that she was an excellent needlewoman and liked to read. Callie is happy to spend time with him.

On Christmas Eve, Callie and her siblings create paper and cardboard ornaments. Callie’s family opens their presents on Christmas Eve. That evening, the family—minus Granddaddy—go to church and sing hymns together. Once they return home, they begin to open their presents. Callie receives bows from her older brothers and a locket from her parents. She opens her final present from her parents, which she can tell is a book. She sees the word “Science” written on it and becomes excited, but she becomes upset when she opens the gift fully and sees that the full title of the novel is “The Science of Housewifery” (304). She is unsure of what to say even as her mother prompts her to say thank you. Callie feels betrayed by everyone, even her grandfather, and she realizes that her life is not hers to own, but her parents’. She whispers her thanks while holding back tears. She later runs upstairs to her room and falls asleep, too exhausted to cry.

Two days after Christmas, Mr. Fleming, the telegraphist, arrives at the Tate house with a letter for her grandfather from Washington. Callie becomes extremely excited and tries to take the telegraph herself. Mr. Fleming states that he can only give the letter to an adult over the age of 18. Callie runs into the house, calling for her grandfather. Her mother, who is entertaining a guest for tea, invites Mr. Fleming to join them in the meantime. Mother tells Callie that her grandfather probably went down to the river. Callie looks for her grandfather by the river but is distraught to find that he isn’t there. She wonders if he has begun to purposefully go to new places to avoid her and begins to cry. She runs to the gin to see if her grandfather is there, and Mr. O’Flanagan tells her that he is not. She begins to cry harder, and Mr. O’Flanagan escorts her home. When she returns, Viola reveals that Granddaddy is in his laboratory and has not been to the river that day.

Callie goes to get her grandfather. They go together to the parlor to receive the letter, and Callie reads it aloud. The letter states that Callie and Granddaddy have indeed discovered a new species and that it will be named “Vicia tateii” after them. The pair sit in silence for a minute, listening to the piano being played in the parlor. They don’t say anything about the plant, and they are called to dinner during this awkward silence. Callie is confused by her grandfather’s behavior and cannot find it in herself to be happy when her grandfather is not.

At dinner, Granddaddy sits silently until after dessert. He goes to the sidebar and pours himself a generous glass of port and raises a toast. He says that he would like to announce that he and Callie have discovered a new species, and the family cheers. Mother stares at Callie with an odd expression on her face. Granddaddy invites Mother and Viola, who is shocked and unsure of what to do, to drink with him to celebrate this occasion. Father toasts to Granddaddy’s health and states that he is proud of his discovery. Harry reminds the family not to forget about Callie’s part in the discovery. Granddaddy exclaims that none of it would have happened without Callie and accidentally claims that she is his only grandchild.

To celebrate the turn of the century, the children are allowed to stay up until midnight. Some people have claimed that this is the end of the world, and Callie reassures Travis that it is only the passing of time. At dinner, mother drinks a bubbly wine that “agrees with her” (328), and father makes several emotional toasts stating how much he loves his family. Afterwards, the children retire to their rooms to consider their New Year's resolutions. At ten o’clock, they read their resolutions. Callie lists places that she wants to see before she dies, and her family members look at her oddly. Harry breaks the silence with applause, and the rest of the family follows, but Callie can tell that her parents’ applause is hesitant. Harry states that his resolution is a secret, but he is pressured by his siblings. He states that he wants to work hard to get into university, but Callie can tell that it is a lie to appease their mother. Granddaddy’s resolution is to drive an “auto-mobile.”

The family sits and talks until the clock strikes midnight, then join hands and sing “Auld Lang Syne.” Callie looks around at her family and sees them all happy and notices new things about them. Callie thinks about how easy it would have been not to approach her grandfather and to miss all of this. Callie dresses in her warmest nightie and goes to sleep.

Callie wakes up in the middle of the night in a panic, feeling like something is wrong. Callie uses the chamber pot and then looks out of the window. She discovers that it has snowed for the first time in several years, blanketing the new century in something “new.” Callie puts on her slippers and a dressing gown and runs outside. She observes several animals looking at the snow in surprise, and she decides to walk around in the snow. She holds onto this moment, claiming that it is a gift and she doesn’t care who sees her. She walks around in the snow, her feet “blocks of ice” (388) and she notices her grandfather looking down at her from his window upstairs. He salutes at her, and she reciprocates. They stand like that for a moment before Callie returns inside.