Tis. I adore St. Louis. Just wish theyd build more bridges over the Mississippi and a new bypass.
Given that our bridges are falling down, they might have to. The Mississippi is treacherous. That reminds me to reread
Life on the Mississippi.
Well, what can I drive? Im not flying. For one thing, I wouldnt be able to take the kids. For another, its crowded, planes are late or canceled, you dont even get a sandwich, you pay for your bag to be
checked, and an airplane pollutes eight times as much as a train. As far as Im concerned, air travel needs to be a thing of the past if were really going green.
Dont count on it. Those special-interest lobbies couldnt give a damn about whats good for the environment, much less the country. He drained his glass. And the public deluded itself into thinking that long-life electric bulbs and electric cars will solve the problem. Until we phase out polluting industries like air travel, were sunk. He paused. Its complicated. I know that. If we end those industries without creating new ones and retraining people to work in the new ones, were creating tremendous hardship for sectors of our population. Theres no easy answer, but there
are
answers. Fair cared passionately about environmental issues.
Youre right. The public doesnt care about the greed, corruption, or rape of the environment as long as they get what they need. At least thats what I think.
Not need but want, Fair remarked shrewdly, while patting Pewters head.
She stood on her hind legs again. Fair had cleaned his plate, but he did drop a little piece of piecrust.
Pig.
Mrs. Murphy swept her whiskers forward. She wasnt one for sweets or piecrusts.
Pewter liked dough, any kind of bread.
Youre no cripple. If you want more, ask for it.
Dont.
The tiger turned, sauntering out of the kitchen.
Youre right. Back to my problem.
Let me think on it. I could rent a car. We dont have one, and for a trip like this, you really need a car.
I dont need one here. The old 78 does the job.
Its not long on comfort.
I sit on a cushion. She smiled, then looked out the window. She rose, walking over for a better look. Flurries.
Damn.
Good thing I kept the fire going.
What about the bedroom? Their bedroom was cold.
Stoked that, too. But I can keep you warm.
He laughed. Im a lucky man. Then he said with feeling, I am. Im married to the woman I love. I love my work. I have wonderful friendshuman and animal. And I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. If I ever forget to be grateful, smack me.
Will do. Harry finished her hot tea. I hope this do for Aunt Tally doesnt do her in.
Tally? Christ, shell probably outlive us all.
Probably, but I have a funny feeling about this.
Fair had learned not to discount Harrys feelings, just as hed learned through experience not to discount when Inez said a horse was unhappy, even with no apparent physical cause. You mean shell get sick or something?
No. Harry placed the cup on the saucer. I cant put my finger on it. This is going to be a huge fund-raiser. Times are tough, so its especially important. Then that smarmy little social climber Terri Kincaidwho plucks my last nerve, by the waywants to have another fund-raiser here. Theyre working Tally too hard, I think. I know Inez put her foot down with the Richmond chapter about having a special fund-raiser tied to Tally turning one hundred.
They can wait until Inez turns a hundred. Two more years. You know she was in her early eighties when I did my residency? Apart from a bad backand what vet or horseman doesnt have oneshe looked about fifty.
Some people just have it. Others die of lung cancer at thirty without ever smoking. Harry had accepted in her teens that there was no rhyme or reason to these things.
But being a fearful species, humans want reasons, so they invent them. Thats what the cats had decided. Theyd also concluded other things about the human animal, few of their conclusions complimentary. But Mrs. Murphy staunchly defended Harry and Fair by saying they possessed catlike qualities.
Tucker loved her humans. She didnt care if they were turned around backward.
Back to your premonition.
Did I say premonition? Fair shook his head no, so Harry continued. Well, I guess it is. Maybe its because of the financial pressure.
Im making too much of it. But, she searched for the right words, I feel this may backfire.
I hope not.
I hope not, too, because the collegewell, its a university nowis doing everything right about the big blowout. According to Inez and Tally, its one of the best-run higher-education institutions in the country.
You know Inez and I can still argue about our alma maters. She thinks Cornell is the best, and I think its Auburn. He rose and cleared the table. Lets hope all goes well. If it doesnt, youre far away from me. I dont much like that.
Its not about me. Its a feeling.
Harry, if anything does run amiss, youll soon be in the middle of it. You cant help yourself.
True,
Tucker piped up.
Thats enough, Tucker, Harry reprimanded the corgi.
She understood,
Tucker announced.
No, she didnt. She wanted you to stop barking,
Mrs. Murphy replied.
I only barked once.
The cat brushed against the mighty little dog, for she did love her. Pewter, who had moved to her cozy fleece bed, opened one eye. She closed her eye again.
Harry did not say anything about her husbands assessment of her landing in the middle of a mess, because it was true.
Fair filled the sink. They didnt use a microwave or dishwasher. They turned on the electric lights only in the room where they were eating, reading, or watching TV. Fair was setting aside money to build a good old farmers windmill. That would help with energy costs. Honey, give me a couple of days on the car thing. I really dont want you driving all that way in anything but a safe vehicle.
Renting will be really expensive.
Let me worry about that. He scrubbed a dish, then turned to smile at her. Actually, I dont want to deny you the pleasure of worrying about money.
Go on. She rose, grabbed a dish towel to wipe off the plates and glasses. Boy, its coming down now.
Ill say. And thats another reason I want you in a safe car. There are no barriers between Missouri and Canada. The weather sweeps down. Here, we have the Alleghenies first and then the Blue Ridge. Its one of the reasons our weather is so glorious. He paused. Most of the time.
She tossed the towel over her shoulder. Still is. Its pretty. Were just ready for spring.
A
dditional revenue. Liz Filmore, the head of the William Woods Alumnae Association of Richmond, concluded her push.
Listening on the other end of the phone was Flo Langston, head of the St. Louis chapter.
Flo had a seat on the stock exchange and was the head of her own successful firm, while Liz, with her husband, Tim, owned a small investment firm.
Liz had been a rising star at an old Richmond brokerage house. Shed learned a great deal. She met Tim, who worked at a rival firm. They hit it off, married, and started their own company, more or less boutique investing. They focused on emerging technologies, small start-up companies. Liz considered Flo a mentor. Flo considered Liz a pest.
It might. Flo responded to the idea that special T-shirts might bring more money into William Woods. Perhaps with one of Tallys famousor infamousquips. However, I sense T-shirt fatigue out there. Perhaps we could come up with something a little more useful.