HOWDY

RAISING KANE

 

The ground has been leveled. Huge trailers bring steel beams to Hartford county. Cranes lift them off and they crash, bang, make thunder roll thru the streets, make houses shiver, sidewalks crack.
Just what we don't need will be rising along the bay's shore. Two banks have shut down recently for want of customers, for loss of depositors, home buyers. Am I nuts? Are the executives of Salisbury United off their minds? Well, I know I'm sane and just about ready to pull out of this fading township myself.

 

Orange steel helmets, clean Levis, young men, muscular women wander around, giving the area the once over. They form little groups, point, make awkward motions toward the steel beams being piled in several locations. Barrier stakes are markers for the official ground breaking event. A huge striped awning rises, gives the awaiting owners, guests, contractors, succor from the sun when Richard R. Kane begins his self-grandizing speech. No question, he is a is 'a self-made man.'

 

While this is all going on, our only Public Library has moved down the street to a smaller, less costly, less helpful, less comfortable old building. Donations come in slowly. Hope is almost, but not entirely gone. With little else to do with myself since I lost my position at Welby's Bakery and have found nothing available that 'makes my day', I idle around the construction site, put cotton in my ears to muffle the noise. On my eyes is a pair of old, but still useful, Grant sunglasses. I definitely need them as the glare of the sun on the steel beams and small lake forces too much refracted light on my irises.

 

Drums roll, the loudspeaker blares the coming of Richard R. Kane to the podium. Hard hatted men and women move in close to the stands, try to capture Kane's eyes, stand out in a crowd. Two buglers toot their lungs out as they parade twice around the wooden stand, stop directly in front of Kane, give one more loud toot and disappear. There is no formal intro when Kane reaches the mike. He starts right in, making promises, offering jobs. It is clear he has made similar speeches before. He has a slight Southern accent, a most pleasant, warm, friendly smile. I am immediately intrigued. Where did this Wonder Man come from? His ability to make us believe in him and what he will do for our town, mesmerizes standees and me. I applaud maybe too often, but it is from my heart. I see him in rags, turning water into wine.

 

Why my applause does not cease when others do, I can't really understand and just stay where I have been since Richard R. Kane came to the podium. Did I wink to him without noticing my eyes flutter? Did I stare at his smile? There is some applause as Kane leaves the mike. Surely he has been noticing me staring at him. Handshaking over, the trucks reverting to the noise they make, I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder, turn and am face to face with Mr. Kane, who instantly tells me he watched me thru most of his presentation.

 

Wow! He asked my name and if I would have lunch with him at the Astoria where his office is. I couldn't turn down the soft, sweet invitation, smile my best smile and go with him to his limo. I must have been a tasty lunch as he devoured me and made me an offer I could not refuse.

 

His suite on the top floor of the Lincoln Tower knocked my clothes off. He surely had x-ray vision. Richard was ready for me. I definitely
Raised Kane.

 

Wouldn't you chance it? I did and am much better off than I was that very morning.