Sintown Chronicles II: Through Bedroom Windows (65 page)

“What the hell?” Sandra muttered.

“I was chosen to be the mayoral candidate because of my position as the principal of the Dot School. That immediately turned into a liability for the incorporation effort. You people may have respected me, but you didn't like me. You thought I was a egotistical snob.” She smiled. “You were right."

Even some of the children playing in the grass stopped to listen.

“I very much wanted to be Dot's first mayor to add to my list of achievements. I was certain that I was by far the best-qualified person for the job. I deserved to be elected."

Heads turned as the listeners whispered to each other.

“Then something happened. I experienced an epiphany.” She glanced in Tim's direction. “Look it up, Mr. Dollar."

The crowed chuckled uneasily.

“I changed my hair style and my choice in clothing. Many of you ladies don't care for my new wardrobe, but I haven't heard any complaints from the gentlemen."

There were more chuckles as wives elbowed their husbands.

“I tried to get to know you—all of you. I spent several nights greeting you at Dot's Diner and the Korner Kafe. It was embarrassing at first. Then I began going door to door. That was when Dr. Deborah Andrews, principal of the Dot School, became Debbie Andrews, concerned citizen of Dot. I no longer wanted to be your mayor just to add to my credentials. I wanted the position of authority and influence so I could help make Dot a better place to live for our forgotten residents."

“I have to stop this,” Tim whispered.

Sandra's grip on his belt held him in his chair. “Smile, damn it."

Deborah continued. “Those of you who are new residents, like me, may not know that at least half of the population of our apparently affluent community have annual incomes below the poverty level. They are sitting all around you right now. They are nicely dressed and don't appear to be financially impoverished, but they are. Tobacco is no longer king. These people need jobs—good paying jobs—and we need to provide those jobs before we start installing county water and sewer lines."

“Shit,” Vic Kimel muttered as he slid forward in his chair.

Heads in the audience began to nod in agreement.

“There's another piece of juicy gossip going around about me and I want to clear the air. Some of you are wondering about my frequent appearances in public with Buzz Adams, who you affectionately call the town's bad boy.” She smiled at Buzz. “There's not much to tell. I like the guy. I know he's much younger that I am, but that's our business. Later this afternoon I am going to move in with Buzz. In time, if he will have me, I intend to marry the bum."

Buzz's mouth dropped open and the audience fell deathly silent.

“If you vote for incorporation,” Deborah continued, “I will be your first mayor. You may not think much of my morals, but there is one thing you can count on, as I have demonstrated today. I will always tell you the truth."

The only sound heard was that of children playing in the distance.

“Now, let's look at the truth about water and sewer. Wells are not running dry in Dot and septic tanks are not failing. Most of us do not need these county services. Housing developers need them. Dottie Frank, who plans to develop a trailer park, needs them, and the business district needs them, but most of us do not. However, we will all have to help pay for these services."

Murmurs rose from the crowd.

“It is true that you will not be forced to tap onto these services, but it is also true that if you don't tap on, you will be assessed an availability fee of sixteen dollars a month. Your property value will increase, but that's all you will get for your money. Since the fee is not a tax, you can't even take it as a deduction on your income tax returns."

“Why haven't we been told this before?” someone shouted.

“I'm telling you now. A vote for incorporation is not a vote for water and sewer. You will vote on that later. There is a better way to do it. I spent most of the day Friday in county offices in Charlotte. I discovered that Dollar Enterprises has quietly bought all the property on both sides of Old Charlotte Road from the fire station all the way to the Charlotte City limits. The lines will be laid along this highway all the way to the church, and Dollar Enterprises will be assessed the major cost. We can then take the line down Highway 13 to the Schoolhouse Road and up as far as Dottie Frank's property. We can add lines later when we are better able to afford it."

“How much will this cost us?” someone shouted.

“The proposed charter allows us to assess ourselves a tax rate of up to twenty cents on the hundred. We have been talking about a rate of nine cents. If we increase that to fourteen cents, we can pay for the lines with assessments and tax dollars. There will be no availability fees, but, of course, property values will not increase until your property is served."

“Ma'am."

Deborah searched for the one who spoke. Jonathan Sprinkle was standing, his hands tightly clinched at his sides.

“Yes, Mr. Sprinkle?"

“You know I am one of the people you said was having a hard time making ends meet. I'm not ashamed to admit it. How do you think I can pay these taxes?"

Deborah smiled warmly. “A benefit of water and sewer that I have not mentioned is the possibility of bringing new industry to Dot. When I become mayor, I promise to dedicate my time to doing just that, and I have already begun working on it. Mr. Sprinkle, are you familiar with the greenhouse project of Penny Taylor and Tim Dollar?"

“I can't afford the franchise fee."

“You can now, and so can anyone in Dot who is interested. My personal financial situation is a private matter, but the fact is, my late husband left me well off. I will loan you, and anyone else interested, the necessary funds for a greenhouse franchise. It isn't charity, Mr. Sprinkle. It's a business investment and I will charge interest."

Deborah did not see Buzz slip out of his chair and was surprised when he placed a can of Pepsi-Cola on the podium. She sipped the beverage and smiled. “Thanks Buzz,” she said. “I needed that. See folks, I told you he's a nice guy."

The crowd chuckled warmly.

“Most of you know Jake and Jo Everhart,” she continued as she nodded to her left. “I met them while I was going door to door. They have a rapidly growing mail-order business. They plan to build a warehouse and will need to employ as many as fifty people."

For the first time during the town meeting, the audience applauded.

“This is just the beginning,” she said. “I will continue to work for you—for us—to bring more jobs to Dot."

She turned and smiled at Tim and Sandra. “The Dollars know that they will benefit greatly from incorporation. Because they are modest, they haven't yet announced it, but Dollar Enterprises will donate a million dollars towards the construction of a town hall and another million to the town treasury to get us off on a sound fiscal basis.” She led the audience in applause.

Tim and Sandy forced smiles to their lips and nodded.

Through clinched teeth Tim said, “I'm going to get that bitch."

Deborah held up her hand for silence after again sipping the Pepsi. “You may not think much of me personally, but I am the best damn school principal in the entire state. I've devoted my life to education. My record speaks for itself. If you vote for incorporation, I will see to it that Dollar Enterprises does not control the town council. I won't let them. I'll always tell you the truth. I'll always represent the best interests of the people of Dot. If you give me the chance, I'll be the best damn mayor any town ever elected."

Somewhere outside the pavilion someone said, “Deb-bie, Deb-bie, Deb-bie.” Others joined in and soon the entire audience was standing and clapping their hands in time with the chant. Strong arms pulled her from the platform and embraced her. Hands patted her back as other hands found and shook hers.

Buzz stood aside and beamed as the Dollars made a hasty exit.

Buzz parked the Mercedes in his driveway and set the parking brake.

“You haven't said a word all the way home,” Deborah said sadly. “You're pissed because I didn't spread my legs while sitting on the platform. Buzz, I'm sorry. I just couldn't do it."

“Get out of the damn car,” he ordered.

She obeyed and stood, trembling, beside the passenger door as he approached. He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. “I have never been so proud in all my life,” he said. “Are you really going to marry me?"

She nodded against his shoulder as tears cascaded down her cheeks.

“Will I be Mr. Andrews or will you be Mrs. Adams?"

“I'll be Teach and you'll be Master,” she replied.

He covered her left breast with his hand and kissed her passionately. “I like Debbie and Buzz better,” he said.

He took her hand and, as they walked to the front door, he said, “I have just one question."

She looked up at him.

“What the hell is an epiphany?"

June stood behind the school building, sipping a large cup of iced tea, holding a second cup in her left hand, and watching Frank run his tractor with reel-mower attachment over the schoolyard.

I know he saw me, she counseled herself. Just be cool. Curiosity will get the best of him.

She was right. He drove the tractor across the grass and shut off the motor directly in front of her.

“You want something?” he asked while remaining in the sweat drenched seat.

“I thought you might like some iced tea,” she said as she approached.

“I don't need any favors from you,” he replied gruffly.

“Suit yourself,” she said. She placed the extra cup on the ground.

“Things have changed, Frank. We need to talk."

“Get on with it,” he said. “I'm busy."

She nodded. “Me too. I am going to start my bookkeeping service earlier than originally planned. I rented an office from Creasy Green. Jay is going to get things started while I continue to learn."

He hopped off the tractor, picked up the cup and pulled off the plastic top. “Jay—he's your professor?"

She nodded. “I need to know if you still want me to handle your books?"

“If your price is fair."

“I'll charge you the same as everyone else."

“I heard Sandra Dollar say they are going to throw their business your way."

She nodded again and forced a laugh. “It's been a hectic day,” she said. “I've been out of town and got home about one. I went by Creasy Green's office and then to the diner to have lunch and get you some tea. Tim was in the diner and we talked about it."

“How many times a week do you have to sleep with him for his business?"

“Once a day and twice on Sundays. Is that about your schedule with Sandy?"

“Is he a good bed athlete, June?"

“I was kidding, Frank. You know I've never had sex with Tim."

“I was talking about Jay."

“Jay is my teacher and friend. That's all."

“Bullshit. At the last minute, I decided to go to Myrtle Beach Friday morning for Maggie's wedding. I stayed at the Holiday Inn South. I was in the lobby when you checked in."

“I went to the beach with Jay to attend the convention of the North Carolina Society of Accountants. It was wonderful. I learned so much, and it was the first time I'd seen the ocean, but it won't be the last. I loved it."

“Is he good, June? Is he as good as I am?"

“Frank!"

He crumpled the cup and threw it to the ground. “I followed you to your room. You both went in the same door. Admit it. The woman who pretended to love me made out with her professor all weekend. Did he give you good grades, June?"

“It's none of your business, Frank Skinner,” she said, fighting back the tears. “For your information, we had adjoining rooms. I meant to fuck his damned brains out to get even with you. We rolled around naked on his bed for hours Friday night. I stayed dry as sandpaper and he was as limp as an overcooked noodle."

She lost the battle with her tears.

“Jay said he couldn't get it up because he knew how much I love you and I didn't get aroused for the same damn reason, but I'll get over you. Every time I think of your head between that bitch's legs I grow to hate you a little more."

“June, I..."

“Shut up, Frank. One day Jay and I will get it on. He's a wonderful man. He's tired of teaching and has resigned. He is going into business with me. I offered to let him move in with me, but he won't do it because of you. When I was in Creasy Green's office today, he told me the barber and his wife moved into their new home on Lumbermill Road over the weekend. I rented their apartment for Jay. He'll move in later this week."

“I find it hard to believe the guy saw you naked and couldn't screw you."

“I don't care what you think, Frank Skinner.” She whirled around and started for the parking lot.

“June."

She stopped. “What?"

“Come here."

She looked at him. He was pointing at the ground in front of him. “What now?” she asked as she retraced her steps.

He folded her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers.

She fought him for two seconds, then sagged against him. He was fumbling with her jeans. She didn't care. His hand was inside her panties. She wanted the hand lower. His middle finger parted her labia. She moaned.

He broke the kiss. “You're soppy wet."

She pushed her pubic bone against him. “You're hard as a rock."

She slid her hands over his chest, stroked his hips and headed for his thighs. Her left hand paused over the right pocket of his jeans as he fondled her breasts.

“Is ... is that what I think it is?” she asked, pressing her hand against his pocket.

He reached into the pocket and produced the ring. He held it for her as she slipped her finger into it.

“Don't ever take it off again,” he instructed.

“Don't ever slip it to Sandy Dollar again—or anyone else for that matter."

“Deal."