The air became alive. This was big time stuff.
“We are talking about things happening right here in our town that could have national and global consequences. It’s not just the big cities that are being affected you know,” she said as she methodically looked at each member. “Where do you think terrorists and communists are going to set up their surveillance systems?”
All the wide-eyed members shook their heads.
“Right here, in our quiet out of the way, sleepy town. It’s where they can go undetected. You all know me and know I am not one to mention names,” she said. One by one, the members thought back to her many wild accusations in the past.
Glenda continued, “There have been a few new license tags spotted in the community, and our outlying woods are the perfect place for those kind of people to gather. And again, I don’t want to talk about other people, but let’s discuss the Zukerman’s frequent trips out of town. They’ve been members of this community for over five years now and have yet to join our church, or any church for that matter. Why is it that they stay to themselves so much?”
Only Aunt Birdie knew the history of Jay and Thelma Zukerman. She sadly shook her head as she remembered the delightful day she had spent with the two of them. As they had sat in his flower-laden dining room and had tea, Jay had related his past history to her, along with the testimony of his life. He had been a devoted pastor for many years. The strain of parish committees and the long arm of the denominational deity had strangled any hopes and dreams he had of making a difference in peoples lives.
A humble man before the Lord, he finally had concluded that the best way he could serve the Lord was to quietly wrestle the forces of hell on his knees, in the holy sanctity of his home or in his shop, surrounded by his beloved flowers.
And Thelma…what a prayer warrior. She was always the one to bake a cake or send a card to someone who was in need of a touch from the Lord. Twice a week, it was Thelma who visited the nursing home and read scriptures to the tired old forgotten souls of the town.
Glenda’s raspy voice pulled Aunt Birdie back into the present. “And the Chamber is also questioning the fact that maybe Joe Crocker isn’t up to speed as to what he needs to be looking for. He may be the sheriff, but the most complicated issue he has ever had to deal with was when they changed the boundary lines of Carington and he couldn’t figure out if the McNappy twins were caught drinking in this county or not.”
A series of amen’s followed her discourse. That was all the fuel she needed.
“And you all know that Debbie Kettermen sits on the school board and she said that Carly Sutton has been stirring up some trouble at the elementary school.”
Now the mere mention of Carly Sutton agitated the women. Carly was Carington’s first grade school teacher and she was prettier than a magnolia in bloom. Her lean, tanned legs set every hen in town to pecking on her. Being twenty-six and single, also added to her lack of popularity. Carly had tawny freckles that spattered over her dainty nose, which unfortunately only enhanced her green eyes, making every female in town envious. To top it all off, she could be found jogging the dusty streets of Carington every morning at 6:15 AM sharp, and every male in town eagerly awaited her arrival. Pink running shorts and crisp white bobby socks enhanced her tight rear and shapely thighs, and a short middie defined her jiggling upper torso.
You could always tell where Carly had passed because she left a trail of coffee grown cold, discarded newspapers, eggs dried on old stoneware plates and cigarettes with burnt out ashes dangling on them. The men were transfixed for a time, as memories carried them back to forgotten youths, and for this there was no forgiveness. Most anything else could be overlooked if the offender gave peace offerings of sweet smelling lotions or gaily wrapped potted plants, but beauty and youth caused a giant chasm, which no one could breach.
“Well what has she been up to now?” asked Diana Osterling, whose husband was one of the guilty ones that had taken to having his morning coffee at Cornbread Corner instead of the house, just so he could ogle the swift siren as she sped past the café.
Glenda tapped her Bible and folded her hands. “She has brought a request before the school board for the removal of the flag. Can you believe that? The American flag! I don’t know what they believe over there at Trinity, but we can’t allow this kind of thing to start. It’s just an example of what is going on and why we at the Chamber of Commerce thought there was a need to start our own Homeland Security committee.”
Now Carly had indeed questioned the flag, but as always, Glenda had not heard the entire request, nor the reason for it. The flagpole had been erected years ago and with the new school renovation, it was interfering with the drainpipes for the new plumbing system. Her request had been to move the flag, not to remove it.
(Stay tuned for the next episode)
