INTO SUMMER… a busy time (Part 173q)
When I got home Wednesday
Elle told me she wasn’t going to the sailing club for the women’s
lessons/races as she usually did. It was surprise as it was something
that she usually looked forward to. She’d become, in a fairly short
period of time, one of the better female racers. I asked if she felt OK
and her response was positive… but she didn’t give me a reason for not
wanting to go. Never one to leave things as they were I pressed her on
it. She made a face and said that some women had showed up at the club
during lessons and were making “fuss”. I asked what it was about and it
had to do with being denied use of the rest rooms. It immediately
brought to mind my having been accosted by a strange man on Sunday. I
think I questioned her as to why that would make a difference that
evening. Then she told me that the women had made threats and promised
to come back and to “make trouble” adding that she didn’t want to be
involved if it were to happen, especially with the kids being there. In
all the years I’d been involved with he sailing club we’d not had any
problems like that. When strangers approached about using the facilities
they were told it was a private club and would walk away. I stood there
trying to decide what to do. I’d been standing in the doorway and heard
the sound of a tractor going by out in the field. I took a quick look
and saw it was John, the farmer neighbor. As soon as I saw him I thought
of his brother, Ed, who was a town cop… and a good guy like John.
After
eating supper I made a call to John’s brother and got lucky in that he
was home. I briefly explained the situation and the threat that had been
made at the club that afternoon. Right behind the club building was the
town softball field and he was a player. He said his team wasn’t
scheduled that night but he’d be happy to go as a spectator and would
keep an eye on the activities at the club as well. I told Elle what I’d
done and suggested that she should go. However, I told her to try and
locate Ed when she got there and if she saw the ‘troublemakers’, point
them out to him. It was pretty clear she wasn’t completely sold on the
idea but I made it clear that I’d put myself ‘on the line’ and that she
needed to go.
I was off to ‘do my thing’ with the connecting rod
bearings at the race car shop as soon as Elle left. I was a bit nervous
but, at the same time, anxious, to do it. I was the only pit crew
member/owner who didn’t have a specific talent and felt somewhat
inadequate when we were working on the car. I’d become a ‘jack of all
trades’ but was a master of none. I was hoping my work on the motor
would raise my ‘standing’ in the minds of the others. Walking into the
shop I could see the car was already on the jack stands and pretty much
just waiting for me. Alan hadn’t yet arrived but I didn’t wait for him.
By the time he arrived I ‘d drained and filtered the oil and was
dropping the oil pan down to give me access to the the ‘’bottom end’ of
the motor. I checked my watch when I started loosening the bolt that
held the pan on to be able to time just how long it would take. When I
finished I felt pretty good about myself. I’d not had any problems and
had gotten all eight bearings changed and the oil pan back in place in
just under two hours… and with minimal help from Alan. He’d busied
himself checking all the bolts on the suspension and rear end. I
finished up by adding the motor oil. As I did we talked about the
possibility of winning another ‘main event’ on Saturday. We both knew
we’d be starting up front and with the added power that the fuel
injection system had added neither of us could wait. In leaving, I told
him that I’d meet up with him and the rest of the guys at the track. I
remember him frowning before asking why. I told him about the Rotary
Club/Chamber of Commerce picnic. I remember him smiling and knew why. He
worked for the aerospace company who owned the property where the event
was staged.
Back at home I was met by Elle… and I could see she
was upset. The women did follow up on their threat and came back.
Unfortunately, they’d upset just about everyone before Ed showed up. The
good thing was that even though he was off duty he managed to call it
in and had a patrol car there before the women could leave. Elle didn’t
have all the details because she tried to stay out of the way. Hearing
about it had me a bit conflicted. I couldn’t help but think what
might’ve happened if I’d gone with Elle and Ed (the cop) had not been
there. I wanted to know the end result and what would happen to the
women who caused the problem.
After we talked about it for a
while Elle calmed down and we discussed the plan for the upcoming picnic
on the weekend. There would be a total of eleven from the two houses
which meant taking two cars. I, as a volunteer, got a pass to use the
bak gate. The concern was how we’d re-connect with the neighbors after
they arrived and used the general parking area. I’d not put a lot of
thought into it but sitting there with Elle I was going through the
names of bank employees who qualified for a pass. Bert, the president,
never volunteered because of his ailing wife and I got the idea to ask
if I could use his. That way, both cars could go together, have a good
parking place and without having to do a lot of walking. By my being on
the picnic grounds on Friday night I’d have the opportunity to stake out
the place where we’d gather. I’d had the same spot for the past three
years and it was one with partial shade… perfect for the kids. By the
time we headed for bed I was really looking forward to it.
It
took a little ‘digging’ to get some information on what had happened at
the sailing club but, there was more to it than just the two women.
They’d brought their husbands as well. The net result was the two men
and one woman were taken to the Justice of the Peace and cited for
disturbing the peace… but were let go. They were also told not to visit
the ‘area’ again with the ‘area’ being the town beach, the town baseball
field and the sailing club. I was told that was basically all that
could be done unless they disobeyed the directive. I knew that when I
told Elle about it she wouldn’t be happy. But, before going home I had
to meet with the ‘parking lot crew to co-ordinate everything for our
assignment on Friday night. I was a bit surprised to find that one of
the guys had been replaced by a woman. I didn’t know what to think about
it at first but knew I’d miss the guy she replaced as he, to be
truthful, was the one who made sure we got the job done and done right. I
hadn’t met her at a Chamber meeting and my first impression wasn’t
favorable. The meeting was over in short order with all of us agreeing
to meet at the site at 6pm. It would be the beginning of what I hoped
would be a great weekend.
To be continued…
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