A Fragile Design (27 page)
Miss Addie’s door burst open, and she bustled into the room while still tying her bonnet. ‘‘I’m sorry to keep you waiting, girls. Shall we go?’’
‘‘I just hope we can find a seat,’’ Bella mumbled as they moved off toward St. Anne’s Episcopal Church.
Addie gave Bella a reassuring pat on the arm. ‘‘I asked Mintie to save our pew for us. We’ll be close to the front.’’
‘‘Your pew was probably taken by the time Miss Mintie arrived. She had dinner chores to perform after supper, didn’t she?’’ Bella countered.
Addie nodded. ‘‘Yes, but she’s employed Lucy’s younger sister to help out now and again. She paid her to do the dishes tonight.’’
‘‘Still . . .’’ Bella permitted the word to hang in the air as a silent accusation.
‘‘Besides, if there’s anyone sitting in our pew, you know Mintie will shoo them out—with her parasol, if necessary.’’
‘‘I suppose you’re right on that account! She’s quite adept with a parasol,’’ Bella agreed, remembering how the older woman had wielded her umbrella against Taylor Manning in that very church pew.
They hurried along, arriving at the church doors only minutes before the meeting was to begin. Mintie was standing guard over the pew, waving them forward with a dark green parasol as they entered the rear of the church.
Addie shook her head back and forth and motioned for Mintie to sit down. ‘‘I suppose she thinks I’ve forgotten where we sit every Sunday. For someone who’s worried about what other people think, she’s certainly making a spectacle of herself waving that parasol in the air,’’ Addie said to nobody in particular.
‘‘That’s true, but you’ll notice nobody is going anywhere near her with that pointed instrument flailing in all directions.’’
Nodding in agreement, Addie worked her way down the aisle, clearing a path for the three girls.
‘‘Finally!’’ Mintie greeted. ‘‘I thought you would never arrive. Saving these seats was no small task. Everybody wants to be near the front,’’ she announced in an explosive burst.
‘‘I was certain you’d be up to the feat,’’ Addie replied as she seated herself. ‘‘Come on, girls, sit down,’’ she instructed, patting the space beside her.
The three girls plunked down as instructed, Bella taking the seat closest to the aisle. After all, she might need immediate access to the aisle if she wanted to step forward and voice her opinion. Of course, if the discussion went well, she might not speak at all. That concept seemed improbable, yet she acknowledged the possibility.
Bella quickly surveyed the church. Matthew and Lilly Cheever were two rows in front of them, along with several other prominent-looking men with their fashionable wives in tow. The pews were full, and an overflow crowd was gathering at the rear of the church when a shadow fell across the pew and Bella looked upward.
‘‘May I?’’ Taylor Manning inquired, looking over her head toward Miss Addie.
‘‘Taylor! Do join us,’’ she invited. ‘‘Scoot down, girls—we’ve plenty of room for one more.’’
Bella held fast to her position as the other girls began sliding down the pew. She wasn’t relinquishing her aisle seat to anyone. ‘‘Why don’t you sit next to Miss Addie? I’m sure she’d enjoy your company,’’ Bella said loudly enough for the older woman to hear.
‘‘Oh yes, do sit here,’’ Addie said as she pushed closer to Ruth, making a space between Mintie and herself.
Taylor arched his eyebrows and then gave Bella a defiant grin. ‘‘Perhaps it would be easier if I went around to the other side. Or, better yet, since the meeting is about to begin, why don’t you move down, Bella, and I’ll take the aisle. That way I won’t disturb quite as many people.’’
‘‘How thoughtful! You are a dear boy,’’ Addie replied, giving him a winsome smile.
‘‘Bella?’’
Taking great effort to move her legs and tuck her skirt closer around her body, Bella looked toward the empty space to her left. ‘‘I prefer to remain near the aisle,’’ she said. ‘‘You can sit there.’’ She nodded toward the vacant seat. ‘‘Or you can go around and sit by Miss Addie, whichever you prefer.’’
‘‘You win,’’ he said while wedging himself between Daughtie and Bella. ‘‘At least this time,’’ he added with a grin.
Bella frowned before placing a finger in front of her pursed lips. ‘‘Shhh! The meeting is about to begin.’’
‘‘If we could come to order, I’d like to present the recommendation of the school board,’’ Reverend Edson said. ‘‘Once I’ve finished, I’ll open the floor for discussion, but I would request you wait until you’ve been acknowledged before speaking. Otherwise, we’ll have chaos and nothing will be accomplished.
‘‘The board members have spent countless hours studying the problems of our current district school system and the possible resolutions in order to provide a better education for—’’
‘‘The children of Lowell are already receiving a decent education,’’ a booming voice declared. All eyes shifted to the rear of the sanctuary, where an impeccably dressed Kirk Boott was making his way down the aisle. ‘‘I’m sorry to interrupt your little speech, Theodore. Oh, excuse me. I should be addressing you more formally since this is a public meeting. Do you prefer reverend or doctor, Theodore?’’
‘‘I really don’t have a preference. In fact, Theodore will be fine. As soon as you’ve been seated, I’ll continue.’’
‘‘That’s Kirk Boott?’’ Bella whispered to Taylor.
‘‘Yes. Making quite an entrance, isn’t he?’’
Bella nodded and watched while Mr. Boott casually sauntered down the aisle, obviously enjoying the attention his entrance was eliciting. When he finally took a seat beside Matthew and Lilly Cheever, Reverend Edson continued.
‘‘As I was saying, the board has considered the present school system, and we are of the opinion that the district system served the residents well prior to the expansion and incorporation of Lowell. Now, however, we believe our children would be best educated if we changed to a graded system. There are certainly more than enough children in the community right now to sustain the graded system, and with each passing year we’ll have additional students to educate. The board believes two new schools would adequately provide for a transfer to the new educational system.’’
There was an eruption of applause throughout the room.
Boott rose to his feet. He didn’t request permission to speak. Rather, he immediately took control, motioning the crowd to silence. ‘‘You can applaud the recommendation, but new schools are not going to be erected in Lowell. Everyone in this room is expecting the Corporation to pay for these schools. Well, the Corporation has paid for everything else in this town, and it is not going to pay for two more schools. Our investment in this community is going to be conducted in an economically sound manner. In order to accomplish financial stability, debts must be paid rather than incurred. I know that concept may be difficult for some of you to understand, but trust me when I say that you’ll need to find some other method to finance these schools.’’
‘‘The Corporation got our land dirt cheap, thanks to you. It won’t hurt them to make up the difference by building a couple of schools,’’ someone called out from the back of the room.
A man sitting several rows behind Bella shouted, ‘‘If the cost of the schools is paid by taxes, the Corporation will have no choice but to pay its fair share.’’
Reverend Edson rapped a wooden gavel on the podium and began calling for order. ‘‘Please—stand and be recognized before speaking. We need to conduct this meeting in an orderly fashion.’’
Once again Kirk Boott stood and turned toward the crowd without being recognized. ‘‘It would behoove all of you to vote against this measure,’’ he said. ‘‘You’re all in line for your pay every week. Remember where your loyalty belongs. If the Corporation fails, you’ll all be without jobs. It would be folly to impose further burdens upon the Corporation.’’
Bella rose to her feet and waved an arm in the air, waiting to speak until recognized by the moderator. ‘‘You,’’ Reverend Edson said, pointing in Bella’s direction.
Bella cleared her throat and met Mr. Boott’s indifferent gaze. ‘‘Fear and intimidation are a poor substitute for a worthwhile defense, sir. The children of this community deserve an education that will one day help them achieve their full potential. It is education that will aid them in contributing to the future growth and expansion of Lowell. Surely your Corporation is willing to invest in the further development of what it has already begun.’’
By the time she finished speaking, Mr. Boott’s apathetic stare had evolved into a condescending sneer. ‘‘I realize this will be difficult for your female mind to understand, Miss. . . ?’’ He waited.
‘‘Newberry. Arabella Newberry,’’ she replied through clenched teeth.
‘‘Yes. Well, Miss Newberry, let me explain a thing or two. This community is an experiment. Never before has such a concept been attempted, and we have yet to determine the success or failure of Lowell. Quite frankly, in only a few years a traveler may find nothing but a heap of ruins where Lowell now stands,’’ Kirk solemnly stated.
‘‘And if a traveler should examine the relics of this town in a few years and find no trace of a schoolhouse,’’ Bella responded, ‘‘he would immediately know what led to its demise. Education is the backbone of a solid society. Educate the children and your town will stand firm, your Corporation will be strong, and your coffers will be filled with the gold you so earnestly seek.’’
Applause and hoots of laughter filled the room as Kirk leaned down and talked to Matthew Cheever and then whispered something to Theodore Edson. Moments later Matthew stood alongside Mr. Boott.
‘‘Unfortunately, I have a previous engagement I must attend. In my absence, Matthew Cheever will speak on behalf of the Corporation. I trust that before this matter comes to a vote, you will all give considerable weight to my words.’’ That said, Boott stalked down the aisle and out of the building.
The crowd quickly turned its attention back to Reverend Edson. ‘‘Thank you for your fine remarks, Miss Newberry. And for waiting to be recognized before speaking,’’ he added. ‘‘Other comments?’’ he asked, looking about the assembly and then pointing to a woman on the other side of the aisle.
‘‘I appreciate what Miss Newberry said. It’s clear from hearing her talk that she’s had good schooling. I’d like to be sure the girls here in Lowell receive as much education as the boys. It appears that the schoolmaster spends more time and effort with the boys and discounts the need for education for our girls. I’m told that lately he’s discouraged the girls’ attendance by telling them they don’t need schooling once they’re able to read a bit and sign their names.’’
A man jumped up two rows behind her. ‘‘That’s because the Corporation is counting the number of pupils. They’ve begun keeping records in an attempt to prove there’s no need for more schools.’’
Matthew raised his hand and waited to be acknowledged before replying. ‘‘That, sir, is a false statement. It is true that the Corporation has recently taken a head count at the schools. However, we have performed such a count every year in order to track growth, not for the reasons that you allege. We also track the number of residents living in the community. There’s nothing secret about our actions.’’
Bella rose from her seat. ‘‘But it’s those very numbers that identify the needs of a community. A town of three hundred has fewer children than a town of ten thousand, hence the need for fewer schools, particularly schools of the graded system. However, a town with only ten Catholic residents does not need a Catholic church in which to worship. A town with a growing Irish population that is primarily Catholic needs a church. The same holds true for fire and police protection—the larger the community, the greater the need. So whether it be directly or indirectly, I believe your figures do contribute to the decisions made for the citizens of this community, Mr. Cheever.’’
Matthew hesitated. ‘‘What you’ve said is partially true. However, the Corporation did not coerce the schoolmaster into making such statements. I’m a staunch advocate of education, but the Corporation does not believe Lowell needs two more schools.’’
‘‘Of course not. The Lowell school system doesn’t affect the lives of the wealthy. You send your children off to fancy private schools without regard to what’s available for ours.’’
‘‘Now, just a minute. I grew up and attended a district school in East Chelmsford, and my education served me well. I consider my fundamental education to be as fine as that of any of the others attending Harvard University,’’ Matthew replied.
‘‘We were a small farm community back then,’’ Lilly Cheever rebutted.
Bella glanced first toward Matthew and then toward Lilly, unable to believe her ears. Lilly had contradicted her husband’s opinion in a public forum. Surely she would apologize and shrink quietly into the background.
Instead, Lilly continued with her lecture. ‘‘I have no intention of sending my children off to boarding school to ensure that they receive a quality education. We have an obligation to provide our children with a superior education right here in their own community.’’
Matthew didn’t respond to his wife’s remarks. Instead, Reverend Edson, with wisdom and kindness, came to Matthew’s rescue. ‘‘It’s getting rather late. Perhaps we should put the matter to a vote.’’
‘‘Are you certain you wouldn’t prefer to wait? Perhaps hold another meeting?’’ Matthew suggested.
The crowd immediately began murmuring, voicing their disagreement. ‘‘We want to vote now,’’ several men hollered.
Matthew Cheever and Reverend Edson exchanged a look and then spoke privately for a moment. Bella leaned forward, listening.
‘‘I think these folks prefer to vote now,’’ Reverend Edson replied.
Matthew shrugged his shoulders. ‘‘I fear you’re taking quite a risk, Reverend.’’
Reverend Edson nodded. ‘‘Perhaps. But it’s the proper thing to do.’’
Matthew insisted Lilly remain seated in the pew until the crowd dispersed. He said he wanted to visit further with Reverend Edson, but she suspected he didn’t want to subject himself to any further questioning by the townsfolk. She sat quietly while the two talked and the sanctuary emptied.