Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3668869" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-eighty-one, “Hero Worship“, Friday, June 16th, 12:45 P.M. The teachers' lunch is interrupted by a knock on the door. Kate opens the door to see Doctor James Eaton standing there, with his three children Rebecca, Philby and Tad standing around ten feet behind him. He says in a soft tone, "Good afternoon Mrs. Kale. Would it be too much of an imposition to ask that my children be permitted to spend the afternoon here at your school? You may have or may not have heard but the other school is closed today. I've just been called to attend an emergency meeting of the Vigilance Committee which will most-likely take the entire afternoon. Normally my wife Beth would be free to watch the children, but she's still attending to Mrs. Young and the newborn." "They're very welcome, of course," Kate answered without hesitation. "Would you like me to include them in our classes, or just allow them to study their lessons on their own?" Mollie Caudell steps forward and with her hands on her hips and in an indignant tone of voice says "Not so fast. Doctor, I think that you have a lot of nerve! After doing nothing but bad-mouth our school for the last two weeks you suddenly find it is alright for your children to be here when you find yourself in need of a babysitter!" Kate stared for a moment, although she shouldn't have been surprised. For one of the few times in her life, she just wasn't sure how to handle this one. She states, "Mollie, I told the town that all children will be welcome here, and I don't want to go back on my word. I understand, though. It is rather confusing, but also an opportunity. Doctor Eaton said some interesting things at his debate which made me think he has been examining his views." "I have indeed," the Doctor states. "I understand your feelings on this issue Mrs. Caudell and while I am not going to make excuses for my....former colleagues….the animosity towards the Hoover School originated from them and not myself. Mrs. Kale and I have had a few conversations regarding a potential merger. And I am here not looking for a babysitter for my children, there are mothers of other children from my school I could leave them with at the moment. I want them here now primarily due to the meeting I must now go and attend. Actions speak louder than words and my leaving my own children in your care will speak volumes to the others on the Committee." Kate says, "Our discussions have so far been about cessation of hostilities, to tell the truth. May I ask what your message is? Beyond reconciliation between the schools. I get the impression you mean more than that." Eaton replies, "Mrs. Kale, Mrs. Caudell, Mrs. O'Hara, there is no need for two separate schools in this town. It is not right for the children and is a needless duplication of precious resources. Regardless of who wins the election I would hope that the new Town Council makes a town sponsored school the first order of business once they are sworn into office. And based upon what I have learned from the Goddess Diana I personally want it to be this school under the supervision of Mrs. Kale." Kate blinked and coughed.  "Thank you, Doctor.  I'm not sure I would be the right choice as a teacher, since the ranch often pulls me away unexpectedly, but I would certainly want to stay involved. You are right, there is no need for two schools here.  And Mrs. O'Hara and Mrs. Caudell would make excellent teachers for a town school," she said and looked over to them, wishing one of them would speak. Meghan steps forward and says, "Doctor, things have been rather tense lately for everybody and emotions are quite high at the moment.   We would be happy to have your children spend the afternoon with us.  Today we have some guest speakers coming who I am sure they will find very interesting and educational." She steps forward and asks, "So what are your children's names?"   The Doctor motions his children forward and introduces them. The teachers smiled and greeted the three children.  "Our classes start again in about ten minutes.  If you'd like to go outside and play with the others there are some of the things from the festival in that box there," Kate said with a warm smile.  "Otherwise you can wait inside until we get started again and I'll get you settled." Kate turned back to Doctor Eaton.  "I hope things go well at your meeting.  Is there somewhere we should send you children if you haven't been by for them before school gets out?" Eaton replies, "If you tell me what time that will be I will be certain to be back in time.  I can always call the meeting to take a break if necessary.   Thank you so very much Mrs. Kale." "It's no difficulty," Kate said and told him when school usually let out.  "I hope your meeting goes as smoothly as it can."  Doctor Eaton nodded and after Philby and Tad had gathered a few things from the box he took his children out to where the others were playing, then left for the committee meeting. Kate says to the other two teachers, "You're probably both wondering what he meant by the Goddess Diana business.  If you can stay after dismissal for a bit I'll explain it all." Rebecca Eaton interjects, “Mother told us, she was summoned to meet the Goddess and was told that you have been blessed." Kate blushed.  "I thought you'd gone with your brothers, Rebecca.  Your mother came to see me last Saturday, although Diana had already told me she had arranged for someone to take care of me. What exactly did your mother tell you?" The nine-year-old girl Rebecca states, "She said that you are the chosen one of the gods.  It will be an honor to attend your school Mrs. Kale.  I hope that I prove myself worthy to be in your presence." "Honey, listen to me," Kate said and got down so she was no taller than Rebecca.  "I'm just an ordinary person, no better than anyone else who lives in this town.  You don't need to be worthy to be in my presence, in fact, I'm honored to have you and your brothers here.  The Goddess blesses many people, every day.  Including your mother." Rebecca nods and her face turns red.  She rushes back into the school to join her brothers.   "A bit of hero worship there wouldn't you say?" Meghan comments. "More than a bit.  This is the kind of thing I was afraid of," Kate sighed.  She looked around to make sure no one beside the other two teachers were in earshot. "I'll explain more fully after school.  The short version is Diana brought my Thomas back to me to say goodbye.  This was in March.  Her blessing to us both is the child we always wanted.  She also arranged for Mrs. Eaton to act as midwife for me.  Which has had the excellent side effect of getting the Doctor and his wife to reconsider their attitude toward me." Mollie had already been told part of the story so takes Kate's revelation in stride.  Mrs. O'Hara apparently believes it as well as she just smiles and says, "Katherine, you might have been better blessed to not have to go through pregnancy, I've done it nine times and can assure you it is no picnic." Kate hugged Meghan.  "Oh no, I want to go through it.  When you've been afraid you never well, or can't... I'm so glad you both know now.  I've hated not sharing this, but before Rebecca said what she did there was no reason for you not to believe I was crazy.  Or trying to excuse my condition. Rebecca’s reaction is the other reason I've wanted to keep the truth quiet.  I don't want to become some holy object to people, or the destination of pilgrimages." Mollie smiles and replies, "I think we will both manage to keep our cool, that is, provided that you still find us worthy to be in your presence." "On the contrary.  I'm not certain I'm worthy to be in yours!"  Kate laughed lightly.  "Our visitors should be here soon, I suppose it's time to get back to work."  The three went inside and got the Eaton children settled before the visitors arrived. At exactly 1:00 P.M. there is a knock on the door.   Kate answers to see Conrad Booth standing there.   Behind him are Edwin Booth and two other well-dressed gentlemen.   One looks to be in his early thirties and is attired in a three-piece suit, silk shirt and tie and top hat.  The other man is shorter, thin with a mustache and eyeglasses and appears to be in his early twenties. Kate smiled warmly at Conrad then extended her hand to Edwin.  "What a pleasure to see you again, sir.  Would you introduce me to your friends?" Edwin gestures to the older man and says, "Yes, Katherine Kale, this is Edward Julius Berwind, a successful Philadelphia businessman in the coal industry.  He then gestures to the younger man and says, "And this is a friend of mine from a prominent family in New York City, Theodore Roosevelt.  He has always wanted to see the west." Kate states, "Mr. Berwin, Mr. Roosevelt, it's my pleasure.  The west is beautiful, Mr. Roosevelt.  I'm sure you will fall in love with it just as my brother did when he was here. My colleagues Mrs. Meghan O'Hara and Mrs. Mollie Caudell."  As they all greeted each other Kate took a moment to say hello to Conrad.  When the introductions were over Kate asked.  "Who would like to speak first?  I'll introduce you to the class and we can get started.  The children have been excited all day." Edwin says, "Let's go in chronological order based upon the oldest, that would be me." Kate spoke briefly to the students, recalling how they'd been studying plays and Shakespeare in particular, then introducing Mr. Booth.  The children all said hello as they'd been taught, then settled in to listen.  The teachers found places on the outside of the room with their other guests.  Kate whispered to Conrad, "Can you stay, or do you have to go get ready?" "I wouldn't miss this for anything," he replies.   Edwin Booth steps forward and begins with a dramatic scene from Richard III.   He then shifts gears and demonstrates his versatility with a short scene among the fairies from A Midsummer Night's Dream.   He then begins a short interactive lecture/discussion with the children about the timelessness of Shakespeare and the parallels between Elizabethan England and the Arizona Territory, demonstrating that he has done some good research about the territory.    The next half hour is spent taking questions from the audience and Kate sees that he has a natural rapport with youngsters. Kate was pleased to see her students excited and asking enough questions to keep the elder Booth quite busy.  Many of them had remembered school as a place to be seen and not heard, and it was a habit that was hard to break with some of them. "He has a natural touch with them," Kate said quietly to Conrad.  She stole a glance at the Eaton children to see what they might be thinking. The Eaton children appear to be marginally entertained.   Edwin introduces the next speaker, Edward Julius Berwind.   Mr. Berwin talks first about the silver mines in and around the town asking the students questions to test their knowledge of the operations.   Not surprisingly it is the O'Hara children who provide the most answers given what they have been told by their older brother and uncle who work at one. From there Berwin begins talking about the coal mines of Pennsylvania, and of the similarities and differences between the types of mining.  He then explains his job of being a mine owner and manager of the day-to-day operations and of the importance of good planning and having a vision for the future. Kate asked her own question, asking about the longevity of coal mines versus silver mines. He explains that the geology is different stating "Coal mines are comprised primarily of coal while silver tends to run in thin veins intermixed with other forms of rock.  As such, they also play out quicker." Kate says, "Which is why we are lucky here to have the development of ranches and the Von Zeppelin's new enterprise.  The mines may last for decades, but when they do play out we will have the infrastructure in place to support the town without them." Berwind entertains questions for another half-hour.   He then introduces Mr. Roosevelt.    The young man lectures about the value of a good education.   He speaks of his four years at Harvard where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.   He then speaks about his eighteen months at Columbia Law School, which he left before finishing his degree, explaining how he felt that wasn't his calling.   He says that last November he was elected an Assemblyman to the New York legislature, the youngest man even elected to that body. He is then asked a question by young Matt Santos asking, "What was the most inspirational moment of your life?"   Roosevelt replies, "That would be in 1865, watching the funeral procession through the Streets of New York of Abraham Lincoln from the upstairs window of my Grandfather's house.   I was only six at the time but it occurred to me then how much Mr. Lincoln accomplished in his life and how any of us could accomplish as much if we set our minds to it." Seven-year-old Consuela Tolucca asks, "What will you do with your life now?"    He says that while he has always admired the west and wanted to visit it, his life is back east with his Legislative responsibilities and that his wife Alice and he hopes that they are blessed soon with children. Kate asks, "What do you hope to accomplish in the New York Legislature?  What issues did you base your campaign on?" He replies, "One of the first things I did was convene a Cities Conference, taking the cities back from the political machinery of the corrupt parties and bosses who had run things up until this.   I have been called a number of things, audacious, bombastic, and naive being the most vocal criticism, but with morality on my side I will be victorious because the corrupt have no defense that can be justified." Kate nodded and said to the students, "This is the power of the vote.  The people of New York voted for Mr. Roosevelt, and those votes have helped clean up the government there. We are just beginning our government here, and our votes will determine what kind of laws we live under." Roosevelt turns the discussion back on the teachers, asking them a number of questions regarding the upcoming election.  He is quite pleased and favorably comments about the town's decision to extend the vote to all races and genders as well as recognizing that citizens as young as sixteen be allowed to participate. When the discussion is over he proposed that the three speakers remain for a short while to answer any other questions the audience may have.  The children are told they can go visit whichever one they wish.   Not surprisingly, most of the girls in the class immediately flock to Edwin Booth while the majority of the boys head over to Mr. Berwind.    A trio of students head over towards Roosevent, namely Consuela Tolucca, Matthew Snatos and Herbert Hoover. Kate floated over toward where Mr. Roosevelt was sitting, listening to what the children would ask.  She also took note of who went where, especially girls who went to see Mr. Berwin, or boys who wanted to see Mr. Booth.  Any hints as to where the children’s interests lay could help her offer what they needed to feed them. Roosevelt becomes even more animated with the smaller group, telling them how he envisions a time when anybody can grow up to become President of the United States regardless of social class, race and gender.  He then freezes in mid-motion.   Kate looks around the room and notes that time has frozen for everyone except her.   She then sees the Goddess Diana, attired again in Native American garb, seated on the chair beside her.</blockquote>

Verification