WINDING DOWN... Summer (Part 140m)
I just knew it was a mistake
to have offered to help the neighbor cut up the tree that had fallen and
blocking their kitchen door. I figured it would only be a matter of time before
someone would come over and knock on our door so, already out in the
weather, I decided to go to “B’s” father and to borrow his chain saw. It
would save me a trip later. He had always been a ‘talker’ and this day
was no different. I got the saw and was on my way in about a half hour
which I felt was fairly good. I still had Elle’s grocery shopping to do
as well as to pump out “B’s” sailboat and it was getting late. The rain
had let up a bit in it’s intensity but the wind was still fairly strong
as I made my way across the market parking lot. Inside I found mostly
bare shelves and few employees. I corralled one to ask what was going
on. Because of the severe weather following the holiday weekend
deliveries were delayed. I could see unopened boxes in the aisles but no
one was re-stocking the shelves. I made an attempt to get the things on
Elle’s list but it was mostly a waste of my time.
The next stop
was “B’s” boat. However, when I tried to turn in to
the marina I was greeted with a saw horse blocking the way. There was a
limp cardboard sign attached to it saying that the driveway was
impassible due to the high water. Just past the entryway was a gravel driveway
to a couple of houses off in the woods so I pulled in there. My shoes were already wet so started
walking over to the boat. I was amazed at just how much rainwater had
fallen since I’d left in the morning. The new pump made for quick work
getting it down to the floorboards. I didn’t worry about getting it all out
knowing I’d be back in the morning. But, since hand pumping is a
mindless task I got to wondering just how Elle’s mother was making out
with the high water. I could almost see the roof from where I was. I pretty much remembered that the cellar had a sump
pump and as long as there was electricity it would be OK. With the
thought in mind I decided to win some ‘brownie points’ by going the rest
of the way down the road to her house. She was glad to see me since
she’d been alone since early Monday morning. Elle’s father was at his
fishing boat and had been there over night. She expected that he’d stay
on this night as well. I called Elle from there and although not happy
was glad to hear from me and was appreciative that I’d stopped by to
check on her mother. That triggered the thought that I better go across
the street to see my parents or that would become a problem that I
didn’t need.
The view of the bay from there showed waves braking
over the dock. I also noted that most of the handrail was missing and
that a large tree stump was wedged under the dock itself. My father
volunteered that the storm would be over by the next afternoon. I
remember thinking that this was no way to spend my vacation time.
I’d
been right about the neighbors. Bill, the new principal, had come over
as soon as he got home from school. Elle reported that all he wanted was
to be able to get into the house through the kitchen door. Because I’d
not gotten some of the food that Elle wanted it was going to be slim pickings
for supper so I decided to head next door with the saw. I was pretty
wet, again, and I figured that it’d only take a few minutes to cut the
few branches away that were blocking the door. Thankfully, “B’s” father
had shown me a sure fire way of starting the saw and, as expected it
only took a few minutes of cutting to clear the path to the door. I was
just finishing up when the kitchen door opened. It was Bill and he thanked me
profusely. All I wanted to do was go home but he had some questions
about what to do without electricity. I told him, that in his case, he’d
have to get an electrician to hook him back up as there was power to
his garage. I reminded him not to flush the toilets as the water pump
wouldn’t work. The look on his face told me that my advice was too late.
While
talking with him I made an effort to see if Barbara was there and if
she was still in her nightie. With no real light I couldn’t see much. I
was about to leave at that point when Phyllis, his wife appeared. She
was the last person I wanted to see at that moment. However, she really
surprised me. Without the usual ‘edge’ in her voice she offered up the
fact that she had food in the refrigerator that would go bad if it
wasn’t kept cold. I didn’t know if she was offering it to me or what so
just stood there. But she continued on by saying that she’d share it
with us if we would allow her to cook it at our house. My first reaction
was ‘here we go again!’ with her asserting her wishes on me. She
continued by saying that she and her girls would do the clean up and
Elle wouldn’t have to do much at all.
I was processing this
whole scene when my stomach growled as if to say “don’t be stupid...
it’s free food and we don’t have much, if anything, to eat ourselves“ I
told her I’d go ask Elle and headed home. The only concern Elle had was
where we’d put everybody with seven of them and five of us. Elle smiled
and immediately said ”the dining room table!“ as it only got used for
eating at Christmas.
It turned out to be a wonderful meal
as well as a good time. Phyllis had brought back a whole batch of honest
to goodness German sauerbraten from her weekend visit with her
relatives. My girls weren’t overwhelmed by it but they managed. All in
all it was very pleasant and, other than Phyllis bossing her kids around
a bit, very easy going. Bill and I got to chat a bit while the older
girls and women cleaned up. I got to ask him some of the questions that
had never been raised at the school board open meeting. He was very
candid and opined that Wally, the Board president, could be difficult to
deal with but he felt he had the students best interest at heart. He
volunteered that one of the very first things that would take place the
following school year would be almost all new text books for the high
school. That had been one of the issues raised by the ‘group' when Elle
and I first got involved with them and the school.
Since they had no electricity
and it was getting dark we invited them to stay with us for as long as
they wanted. Barbara, who looked a lot better than she’d looked that
afternoon, and her sister played games with the kids allowing the adults
to get to know each other better. When Elle told Phyllis that her
mother had come from Germany when she was but 18 years old it was like
we’d become part of her family. It was amazing. Phyllis wanted to meet
Elle’s mother as soon as she could so they could talk about where all
their relatives had originated. It was close to 10pm when they left. I
did ask if there would be school the next day and Bill’s answer was
“Yes... as long as there was electricity”.
To be continued...
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