INTERESTING TIMES... A change of pace (Part 130c)

INTERESTING TIMES... A change of pace... (Part 130c)

Sunday turned out to be a “lost” day. I knew all the things I should’ve done on Saturday (mow the lawn, take the garbage to the landfill, change the oil in the station wagon) were waiting for me after church. However, the quest for a new minister was winding down and the parishioners were clamoring for the Vestry to make a decision. As I’d written earlier, the diocese had sent us a clear message as to who they wanted us to chose and he was there, again, to preach that Sunday. So, a special meeting was called to address the situation for a final time. Being the newest (and youngest) member I had very little say in the matter so kept my mouth shut even though I didn’t have a good feeling about the man... or his wife. By the time the meeting was over it was almost 1pm. Elle had taken the kids home so I had to find a ride. Another member offered me a ride but he needed to stop at his house first. By that time I was resigned to playing “catch-up” for the rest of the day and accepted his offer.

He had a son in Jean’s class but I’d never interacted much with him or his wife and I don’t remember why. He was a school teacher in another district and his wife was a stay at home mom. He’d bought an old farmhouse and was in the process of renovating it. I remember the driveway going completely around the house and as we circled it I saw one of my favorite things... a washline with clothes waving in the wind. He stopped in back and left the motor running while he went inside. I scanned the line for... what else, panties, and was somewhat rewarded. The line ran from the back of the house to a fairly large shed in the back yard. It ran at a bit of an angle so I only had a partial view but counted at least six pair with most being pastel.     

After getting somewhat caught up I spent the last part of Sunday afternoon finishing the sign for Rob’s candidacy for the school board. It was hard to believe but the election was less than a month away. I was just finishing up when I saw a shadow in the doorway of the garage. It was Sabrina. As soon as I saw her I had a negative feeling. She’d heard the lawn mower and had come over to ask if I knew anyone who cut lawns. She was standing in the doorway with the sun behind her. I could see the silhouette of her legs right through her dress and it was fairly obvious that she wasn’t wearing a slip. As I answered her my eyes never left her crotch area. I didn’t really know anyone who did that sort of work as all the people I knew did their own lawns. I did suggest that she go to the high school and check with the guidance department as I knew that they often found Summer work for students. She thanked me and then disappeared... but for only a second or two.

When she reappeared she was pointing toward my clothesline and asking to know who’d made it. I asked her why she wanted to know and she said she hated the one she had. I queried her as to what was wrong with it. Back when I'd first seen it when the house belonged to Celia lived I thought it had been a good idea. Having it attached to the garage and not taking up yard space made sense to me. I remember her giving me one of those looks that indicated that she thought I wasn’t too bright. When she explained her reason it made sense... the sun never reached the North side of the garage so her clothes didn’t always dry. Hearing her explain it I was kicking myself for not ever going to peek through the hedge since she’d moved in. Then she asked if it would be OK for her to use ours during the days when no one was home. Our line was out in the open and no matter which way the wind blew the clothes would get some air to help them dry. I told her I had no problem with it but if Elle did I’d let her know. When she disappeared from view, this time, she didn’t return. I was still mad at myself for never having checked out her washline. I certainly had when Celia and Sophie lived there. Now I wondered if I’d ever be home early enough to check ours out with Sabrina’s clothes draped on it.

The third Wednesday of the month was the Board of Trustees meeting and I “bugged” Hobie“ about the servicing of our accounts being taken over by an outside company, yet again. I could see that he was perturbed by my asking. He basically told me that the subject wasn’t going to be addressed until the Board had settled on a branch location and had preliminary approval from the banking department... and to drop the subject. The tone of his response was totally unexpected. The almost daily parade of Trustees across the lobby and headed upstairs had become commonplace and I was no longer ”on edge“ when I saw one or more of them "hovering" there. On Board meeting days they would usually arrive about 2:45pm and head right for the Board room. However, on this day I saw a few of them stop by one of the check writing desks and carry on a conversation. I watched as two well dressed men that I didn't recognize join them. I was curious as to why but before I could get any idea of what was going on Liz, the Auditor and Laura, her assistant, came up to my desk and put some papers down on it.

I quickly scanned them and, since nothing untoward jumped out at me, I asked what it was about. Liz lifted the top sheet and I saw a teller proof sheet with Jerene’s name on it. Circled in red were two different numbers. I had no idea what she wanted me to see. You would have to have known Liz understand that she expected people to know just what she was thinking. I remember looking up at her and putting my hands up. Laura was right behind her and I caught a glimpse of her face and she was trying to suppress a smile. In a tone that hinted of exasperation Liz pointed out that Jerene had transposed numbers on the proof sheet and yet had handed it in as being in proof. Then, to emphasize her point she lifted that sheet off and exposed another with the same type error. Not knowing what she wanted me to do right at that moment, I asked. At that point she snatched the papers up and strode off with Laura following behind her, much like a puppy.

I knew I’d have to speak to Jerene but I also knew I’d need the proof sheets back as well. I decided to let Liz cool down a bit and then speak to Jerene just before quitting time. I’d heard my phone ring and seen Trish pick it up. She told me it was J J and he was on the line. He said he was coming right down and from the tone of his voice I could tell it was some sort of ”news“. As soon as he opened the gate to the platform area he motioned me to go to the corner to the right of Hobie’s desk. " Did you see those two men being escorted upstairs by some Board members? They're adding two new Trustees!“ That was a shock. Right after the ”flap“ about the female employees wearing pants two of the oldest Trustees had supposedly ”resigned“ leaving two vacancies. I’d heard absolutely nothing about the Board looking to fill them and, listening to J J, he hadn’t either. But, what concerned him was that he knew one of the men. He lived in the same town as J J and I and was a member of J J’s church. I asked him who it was and he responded ”Polak Joe“.

To be continued...