The work week finally came to an end that Friday, as even bad weeks will, and Emmeline trudged to the trolley stop alone and frustrated. She and Alice had at last worked out that Em had not put the pro-union handbills on Alice's desk, and in fact, no one knew who had! That someone had set Alice up was obvious.
Em had gone straight to the director of course to plead Alice's case, which was dismissed with a deaf ear. Both the Soup and director insisted that Someone Was Needed at the Archives and Alice, with her years of experience, would be the Perfect Person. Both claimed innocence regarding any union bills.
Both were full of bull, thought Em.
She passed the Teacup Cafe and gazed sadly at 'their' table,where she and Alice had spent such cozy times together. It stood empty, as if awaiting their return. A lone tear trickled down Em's cheek and she brushed it away with a gloved hand.
She looked up into the glass and noticed the reflection of a tall person next to her.
'Emmeline.' was all he said.
'Jack!' Em was flustered anew. 'What, what in the world are you doing...here!?'
That crooked, almost woeful half-grin appeared as Jack said, 'Well, Aleister and Yeats and I all decided to return here, to Pankhurst and Crowley House, oh, rather awhile back.' seeing her eyes wide like a terrified filly about to bolt, he took a small step back. 'Please, Em! We're...I'm, not about to do anything! I nearly passed you and thought it best to say nothing, but, you looked, well, abit lost just then.' He looked at her enquiringly.
Em sighed and looked down at the wooden sidewalk planks.
What does it matter, if they're here or not? Could she keep them away? Not likely. She knew better than to think 'what more could go wrong...' -- banish those thoughts at once!
'Where's Alice?' Jack asked, all ingenuous.
Whereupon, the stress of the whole week finally collapsed upon Emmeline and her chin began to tremble. She looked up at Jack with her eyes spilling tears.
'Em, my gods! What is it? What's happened?, Here, I have Aleister's trap, do let me give you a ride home.' he hesitated, nearly taking her arm, then drew back. 'Please,' he said.
She merely nodded, keeping her head down, and allowed Jack to lead her over to where he gave a boy a coin for watching the horse and cart, and then helped her onto the seat. Jack hauled his long self up beside her and clicked to his bay as they left the place where they'd first met...so long ago now.
'Here,' said Jack, handing Emmeline his large kerchief.
He was quiet, waiting for whatever news from Em.
Em blew her nose and dabbed her eyes, clutching Jack's scarflike hanky. 'It's Alice,'she began in a trembling voice unlike her own, 'She, she's been blacklisted. And transferred to Siberia! And it's all my faullllt...' she finished, choking sobs anew, she stuffed the kerchief into her mouth and bit upon it, trying to get hold of herself.
Jack, certainly no stranger to self-recriminations, suddenly felt a new kinship with Em. 'What happened, exactly? Not Siberia, certainly?' His voice was low and kind, which made her even more prone to weeping again.
Em sighed. 'It may aswell be...they've sent her across town, over by the old warehouses, where archives are kept. She's there all alone, in that cold, goddess-forsaken place! And diosa knows how she can keep it up! She has no transportation out there...'
'Here, now, Em! If you'll let us, you know Aleister would be pleased to assist Alice, and yourself, in any way, as would I! I know you don't trust us, and I don't blame you at all. But, this sounds like something that
you two shouldn't have to face alone, you know!'Jack finished earnestly.
'Oh, Jack...' Em looked down again, shaking her head...
'Thanks for the offer. For now she is getting a ride from friends, Ernestine Guevara and her brother Leon have a horse and cart and they have been kind enough to
transport Alice for a time, but of course, we can't presume upon them indefinately!' She looked up at last and gazed ahead at the stark winter landscape with the barren trees devoid of green.'It IS all my fault though...I insisted that we try to organize for a union at the library.'At last she looked over to Jack. 'Someone set Alice up. Planted our pro-union handbills out in plain sight on her desk where the director could see! Shortly thereafter, she was...exiled...'
Jack frowned then. 'The devil you say, Em! That's just plain vicious! Already it begins...' Em wondered what he meant by that. Some future knowledge, perhaps? 'Have you any leads? Anyone with a grudge against Alice? Though I can't imagine anyone not liking our Alice...'
Em liked the way he referred to her as 'our Alice'...'Of course she hasn't an enemy in the world. But, there are enemies of unionization, and worker's rights! The city council...various corporations about town. But we're non-profit! Or supposed to be...'Em frowned in turn. 'If they think they can beat us down, they'll soon find out differently! Alice and I, have a plan.' Oh dear. Why did she say that? The less Jack knew, the better.
But he didn't pounce upon that tempting newsbit as she feared. As they drew up before Alice's, all Jack said was, 'Well, Em, you know you can always ask Aleister and me for anything, at anytime. He warned me to keep my distance from you,you know,'he grinned slightly at her sideways,'And we have been lying low, but not because we aren't concerned about you both. Quite the opposite.' He looked at her intently.
Just then, they were both distracted by the rattle of an approaching wagon. Down the avenue came the sound of men's voices, talking and laughing, and lo and behold, a cartload of agitators driven by none other than Lev Kopalski, rounded the corner into view. 'Whooaaah, there! Hullo, Em!' Lev's forced amiability was betrayed by his near-scowling features as he took in Em seated close beside some stranger on the driver's seat before them.He pulled the wagon alongside their small trap.
'Oh! Lev!' Em felt oddly flustered before her old beau, to be found here next to Jack suddenly. 'Is, ah, your paper out then?'
'That it is!' Lev reached behind him into a crate and handed over a stack of the Comrades' Cooperative Speaks.
'Distribute freely! And, be sure that Alice gets one of course!' He stared unabashedly at Jack, then put out a hand to him. 'Lev Kopalski.'
'Jack Van Horn,' answered Jack evenly, taking Lev's rough hand for a short sharp shake.
They were all saved from further discomfiture by the ringing of a bicycle messenger's bell then.A lad on a blue bike came barreling down the street holding forth a small slip of paper. 'Wire for Ms. Emmeline Page!' he sang out.
'I'm Ms. Page!' Em reached out and took the paper, as Jack absently handed the boy a coin, which he bit into and pocketed, then touching his cap went peddling off back to town.
'It's from the Captain!' Em was so surprised she didn't censor herself before anyone there, but caught herself then. 'Um, my friend from Liverpool, Captain Omen, that is.'
'No bad news, then?' Jack enquired courteously.
'No, not at all! His ship will be in port in San Francisco, ah, soon...is all...'Em folded the wire and slipped it in her coat pocket.
Meanwhile Lev and his wagonload of cronies had been taking in the scene with undisguised amusement. One dark , handsome lad began to strum a guitar absently, humming to himself. Lev began to laugh quietly then, and reaching into his paper-stash, handed one to Jack. 'Here! Something to keep you busy at home nights!' he laughed, and shook the reins of his big team, 'See you later on then, Em! Viva la revolucion!' And off they jangled into the evening's dying light, the lads in the wagon now raising their voices to the tune of 'Carabina 30-30'...
. . . . .
Later, after Jack had left, Em fixed herself a sandwich and decided to sit in the parlor awaiting Alice's return. Taking bites in between stoking the new fire, she kept pacing about the room, unable to relax.
What a day! Ye gods but she certainly hadn't seen it coming...all, that! 'That' being: Jack, Lev and the Captain to top it all off! How the gods must be laughing up their sleeves, if they had sleeves, enjoying the grating her poor nerves were getting...Diosa! Why is it that when she was craving only peace and quiet for a change, did it suddenly start raining men? One on top of the other!
'I didn't ask for this!' she pleaded aloud. MacGregor
padded over to her and sat before her, ready to help if he could. 'You, my dear, are the one guy I'm happy to see right now...'she allowed, as she ruffled his fur.But, why, really, was she so distraught?...she and Lev were just friends now, comrades. And the Captain, well, they were closer than friends, and yet so very far apart... And Jack? Diosa, what about Jack...?
Unconsciously mimicking his gestures, she ran her hands through her hair and then she stood, hands on hips and declared, 'I think I'll have a glass of wine!' Mac wagged in agreement she thought, and she headed to the icebox for a nicely chilled riesling. It is Friday, and the weekend, she decided, popping the cork, earning a 'whuf!' from Mac. Pouring the near-golden libation, she took a sip then headed back to the parlor, tapping her nails against the wineglass, Mac dogging her heels...
yes, just what about Jack, anyway?..she mused...
for some reason, she'd believed that he and Aleister had somehow been banished from her world when she left them back in 2076 or whenever it was.She certainly hadn't been ready to meet up with him again so soon, if at all. Truthfully, she hadn't been thinking of him. It'd been a shock when she found herself standing next to him today, ye gods...!
Suddenly she recalled the wire. She went to the hallway and took it from her coat pocket, rather wrinkled now, she smoothed it as she headed back to the fireside. Setting her glass on the mantle, she read it again. What it actually said, was that Mon Capitan and Mr. Orez, (Frank! thought Emmeline, planning their meeting-to-be--) would be in port on New Year's Eve, and would she and Alice be so kind as to join them for luncheon? Time and place were ever the same, so she knew he needn't mention anything else...they both knew one another so well...
She smiled as she sipped her wine, and sighed, thinking of her familiar capitan and how good it always was to see him;someone she knew and trusted who didn't surprise her with abductions across the centuries into strange new worlds...although...truly she didn't mind the adventure, or the strangeness. What she absolutely despised, was the whole abduction business! No: 'Hello, Emmeline! Would you be so kind as to accompany me into the future?' Just wham, bam, and not even a thank you ma'am!And then there I was, fading in and out of existence! She grimaced then and drank off her wine, setting the glass down. Jack was trouble, more so than Lev, really. Oh,and didn't he just have fun, though? Em put a hand to her forehead...recalling Lev's laughter. Now, thanks to Jack, he'd gotten the idea that she was some sort of femme fatale';
just stringing along men she idly fancied...Oh, all she wanted was to be done with the lot of them!
Refilling her wineglass, she went then to their old upright piano and sat, running her hands along the keyboard, and noting it sadly needed tuning. Not quite Jack's grand, she had to admit. Basta! Enough of Jack, already! And she slowly picked out a tune that had been tickling the back of her mind...she laughed a bit then when she realized she was echoing 'Carabina 30-30' that the young revolutionary had been playing in Lev's wagon.
'Whuuuuf! Whuf!' Mac took off for the front door, as Em heard the sound of hoofbeats outside. That must be Alice, she thought, glad of some interruption to her introspection. Alice entered and could be heard fussing over Mac and divesting herself of her winter wear.
'In here, Al,' Em said, still tinkling distractedly on the keyboard.
'Well, now! That looks the best idea yet today!' Alice remarked, heading to the icebox past Em. She returned with a glass of wine herself, and was actually smiling Em saw. She stopped playing.
'Alice! How did it go, dear?' Em scooted over as Alice sat next to her on the piano bench and fingered a few chords.
'Oh, you know...I survived. Thank goodness for good friends! If not for Leon and Ernestine, I'd be up the creek. But, being alone out there all day gave me plenty of time to think!' Alice stopped playing then. 'I actually took Frank's papers out there with me, and studied them most of the day! And what do you think, Em!' She turned to her, her eyes alight.
Em waited to hear Alice's news. 'Well, I think I have pinpointed exactly when the Nexus Point will be!'
'Truly, Alice?!' Em was excited. At last they had something!
'Yes.' Alice stood then, and took her wineglass in hand to the window. She took a sip and turned to face Em then. 'I believe, that it will be at exactly midnight, on New Year's Eve!'
Em leaped from the piano bench. 'Alice! That's perfect!
We'll be in the City then, and hopefully, with Morgana! Oh!, and Al--I, too, have great news!'Em handed Alice the wire. 'And, Mr. Orez and the Captain, will be there with us --with Frank, as well, possibly!'
Alice studied the wire. 'It looks like....Em! Oh, Em...I, I do so hope that this could really mean something...but I don't want to get my hopes up in vain.
It's going to be quite the New Year's, whatever happens, that's sure!' Alice smiled, handing Emmeline the paper.
'There is...another bit of news,' Em admitted, sipping her vino. 'I, I ran into Jack today, downtown.' She looked at Alice searchingly.
'Van Horn?' Alice's brows shot up in surprise.
'None other. Oh, Al...it couldn't have happened at a worse time...'and Em proceded to detail her unfortunate Raining Men vaudeville act that her after-work journey home had become. To her great astonishment, Alice began to laugh heartily.
'Alice! It was no laughing matter, I assure you!' Em felt rather embarrassed by the whole thing, somehow.
'Oh, Em, I'm sorry...' Alice began to hiccup then. 'I just, o, drat it! -hic- Oh, one couldn't orchestrate a better comedy routine! -hic-!'
Em was not amused. 'Not funny Al! I was wanting so to become friends with Lev again, not to give him the utterly wrong impression of, of having relations with Jack, a relative stranger! And then, the Captain's wire on top of it all...oh...' Em's misery drove Alice to a further hiccup fit.
'You'll make yourself ill, Al. Here, I'll brew some gentian tea...' Em began to head to the kitchen then.
'No! Don't you dare! -hic- I feel better already! Diosa, anything but that bitter brew it's nastier than Halfwaffle's underware!-hic!-' Alice and Em both dissolved into gales of laughter then, which Mac joined in with a 'who-ruuurrr!' sortof howling. This made them rather hysterical.
And so ended a typical evening at the Page-and-Stein residence. Satisfied that all was well, Jack crept away from his hiding place in the bushes near the parlor window and retrieved the bay which he had tied to a sycamore down the avenue. Softing singing 'Carabina 30-30,' he trotted off home to Crowley House...
...Later that same evening...
Lev locked the door to the small office he rented at the edge of town in the warehouse district, not far from the library's archives building, if he had known. It was just storage space for the new and back issues of Comrades' Cooperative Speaks and some of the union handbills;that and an old wooden desk and chair and file cabinet were all it housed, Lev made the term 'minimalist' seem rather frou-frou by comparison.
He was walking to his bicycle when he thought he heard something behind him. Just as he turned around, that was the last thing he thought before he was hit by several someones and fell to the hard ground. He felt hands going through his pockets and knew they'd taken his keys. One against four couldn't hold out long though, and mercifully he soon was out cold.
. . . . .
'Emmeline! Emmeline! Get up! Now!' Em thrashed awake hearing Alice call to her from the foyer below. She stumbled trying to open her eyes, as she groped for the doorknob. 'Alice? What is it?' Em pounded downstairs.
Alice thrust that morning's edition of the Pankhurst Courier under Em's bleary, and she had to admit, rather hungover gaze.
'Read, Em! It's Lev!'
'Lev!' Em grabbed the paper and staggered over to the window's morning light. She frowned and managed to focus enough to make out: "'Communist Sympathizer Nabbed in Plot to Torch City Hall!'"'What!?' Emmeline couldn't believe it.
But there was an old photo of Lev...from a previous Courier story on the dam protests, that is to say, those of us picketing against building the dam along the local waterway. 'It says that Lev was caught with petrol and torches and Molotov cocktails...!'Em looked at Alice in horror! 'Alice! Lev was set up too!'
'Well, let's go down there and get him out, then, what say?'
Alice headed to her room to change.
'I hope we can Alice!' Emmeline flew upstairs, tears of rage in her eyes. Oh, goddess! When will the madness ever end?, she thought, blindly grabbing clothes and dressing in a daze.
She ran downstairs and met Alice at the door, ready to race. 'We'll stop at the Guevara's en route. They'll want to know. I believe Leon knows of a pro-union attorney.' Alice locked up and they marched down the avenue to town.
'Alice...this is war.' Em's face was determined as she gazed steadily ahead and their boots echoed along the street in the early morning cold quiet.
'I wonder...seems someone is begging for a confrontation, though Em. We need to be canny about this.'Alice looked worried.
Em stopped, dumbstruck. 'Alice.'
'What?' Alice looked confused.
'You don't think...this can't have anything to do with...the Nexus?'
'Diosa...'Alice looked stricken. 'Is it that far-reaching?
You mean, they know? And, they want to, say, have us in their safe-keeping, perhaps?'
'Whoever 'they' are.' Em looked about them then. 'Let us keep moving, on to the Guevara's. We'll explain the situation, give them all we can for bail, and let them take it from there.'
She and Alice walked on then, silent.
'We can't miss that appointment, Em' Alice whispered to her friend.
Emmeline took Alice's arm, and put a hand over hers.'We won't Alice, I promise you! We'll all be there,together, on New Years Eve!'
Little did Em know how keenly prophetic her words would be.
Rosita Quintana Carabina 30 30: watch video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMEF_P-8nno
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Crime and Punishment
Emmeline arrived at home before Alice, and MacGregor met his 2nd Most Important Person at the gate. "Hello, you!' Em greeted her favorite K9 with a pat as she entered the house through the back porch, taking jars of canned okra and tomatoes from the pantry shelf with her. A nice hot stew she thought, would be just the thing on a cold mid-winter's day.
An hour or so later with stew tasted and pronounced incredibly delicious, she fed MacGregor and sat at the breakfast nook as he appraised her with head cocked to one side. 'You, Sir, have been fed! And no, chilie peppers are definately not to your taste!' She and Alice always made sure to celebrate the fall harvest with plenty of dried chilies from the garden,herbs and mushrooms, and canning anything else that didn't move gave provender against the cold winter.
Where was Alice, anyway? Em knew they both had finished work at the same time, but Alice was not at the trolley stop when she headed home directly. Em sat at the table and pondered the day's events, Mac flopping at her feet. That signature sheet...bodes ill indeed, she decided, as she scratched his bristly head. 'Where's your mama, eh?' she asked. Mac sighed then, making her smile. My stars, but it's dark out! Where could the girl be?
Just then, Mac raised his head and 'whuff!'d.
'At last!' Em got up as Mac raced off to the front door.
'Oh, well now! My stars, dearie, it isn't as though I'd run off with the gypsies!'Alice bent to pick up Mac who was near wiggling out of his skin with joy to see his Numero Uno.
'Soup's on!' Em called from the kitchen, as she set bowls out for them both and a loaf of rye-caraway bread on the cutting board.
'Smells wonderful! I'm fair famished!' Alice exclaimed, hanging her coat and scarf in the hallway.
She washed up quickly then bent over the stove and dipped her spoon into the pot, thick with okra,mushrooms, tomatoes and rice, and chilies naturally.'Needs more chilie pepper!'she winked at Em.' But, not bad!'
'High praise indeed, coming from your mama!'Em addressed Mac who wagged in agreement. 'So! What have you been up to, then?' she asked as she took a seat and bent to her steaming supper.
Alice joined her and first savored several succulent sips of soup, purred like a cat and sat back before answering. 'Ummmm...Diosa, but that's what a body needs on a cold winter's eve! Good work, girl!' Al set to with knife upon rye then.'Have I got news!' she declaimed enigmatically.
Em cocked an eyebrow.
'Well! You recall the dread signature sheet we signed today? I took the matter up with some friends of mine.'
'Indeed, Al! Good! That has certainly been uppermost in my mind all day. I can't quite fathom what it portends...but I don't trust it.' Em sat back then,regarding Alice seriously.
'Exactly. I met with a couple of my old pals, a nurse and teacher, who have been trying to persuade their fellow workers into organizing for a labor union. You know one of them, I believe--Ernestine Guevara.'
'Oh,Ernestine! Truly? That's great news!' Em sat up now,'I haven't seen her since the night of the war games on the esplanade...'Em rested her chin on her hand in thought. 'That new 'guideline' as they call it...they're claiming that it was only instigated in order to target repeat offenders and take steps to get them to shape up or ship out.'
'Bull Frogs, Em!' Alice set her spoon down with a thwap. 'If that was the case, they'd simply deal with the bad apples, not the whole barrel! Oh, no. They are after the foolish long-timers like us who believe we actually have a career! Just you watch! They'll target us, and then we'll be replaced with youngsters desperate for work at bottom dollar!Not that I begrudge anyone a job.But we have worked hard, believe in our work as something worthwhile to the community. And we're good at what we do, doggone it!' Alice sighed and stood then. 'I have something to show you. Come into the parlor.'
...said the spider? Em thought as she followed Al and took a seat at one end of the sofa and curled up with Mac on his blanket in the middle.She could hear Alice rummaging about her coat pocket in the hallway. Alice then entered the room carrying papers which she proceeded to unroll.
'They look like handbills. Let's see, Al.'Em leaned foreward as Alice sat on the other side of Mac and
taking a glance at Em, Alice read: 'ORGANIZE! There Is Power In A Union!' She paused and handed Emmeline a couple of the flyers.
'Oh, Alice! At last! You know we've been talking about this ourselves! And I have spoken of it with Ernestine...' Em read the bill: 'Labor Meeting - Wednesday Evening 7pm - Community Center. A Grassroots Movement For Worker's Rights' Emmeline studied the papers. 'We're going!'
'You bet your boots.' Alice arose and went to the hallway.She returned boasting a handfull of handbills.
These she dropped triumphantly upon the tea table.
'Marvellous! Good work yourself, Al!' Em paused and reflected a moment, 'I wonder...dare we take them to work though? You know the chilly climate.'
Alice smiled her Cheshire cat smile. 'I'll give them a Chilie Climate!' She raised her fist in air. 'Viva la revolucion!'She and Em exchanged smiles. 'It was divine stew mi amiga. But...diosa! Where's the cayenne?'
Em grinned with determination. 'We should take them, don't you think?' She took up half the sheaf of bills.'And you're welcome to the stew!But you know I haven't your hot tongue, querida!'
'I'll give them muy caliente at the meeting Wednesday.'
Alice stared at the flyers.'By the way, I saw your old beau, Lev, at the printers when we went to pick these up.'
Emmeline leveled her gaze at Alice. 'Lev Kopalski?' She remembered.
'You two had quite the thing together at one time,'Alice ventured.
'Lev, back in Pankhurst.And, just in time for a labor demonstration!' Em smiled and shook her head slowly. 'Same old Lev.You're right, Al. We did have a great thing going. I miss him. But, it just wasn't in the stars.'
'Hm.' Alice regarded her. 'Well. He certainly remembers you. Asked about you, he did.'
Em sat back, her leaflets in hand, and stared into space. At last she closed her eyes and smiled again, a little wistfully. 'I remember Lev fondly.'She looked up then. 'And we had much in common. But...we had our differences too. Still...'she stared into the distance once more. 'it'd be nice to see him again.'
Alice stood. 'Wednesday night then.'
Em looked at her leaflets,'So it is written. So shall it be.'
. . . . .
The Community Center was lit up like a Christmas tree as the old song goes, and full of town&countryfolk as well as pro-union agitators from various parts.Wednesday was a good night for town meetings as the church also had prayer meetings then and so this kept the anti-union crowd down. However, there were one or two radical priests from out of town who actually had one foot on the ground as well as a head in the clouds, as it were. Alice and Emmeline jostled through the crowd trying to nab a couple of rare seats together. They'd just sat down near the podium when they heard a familiar voice call; " Em! Alice! Diosa, it's good to see you both!'
'Ernestine!' Em motioned her friend over and when she and Alice had hugged her hello, Ernestine began to regale them with the meeting's agenda in, well, earnest.
'At last! It looks as though it's coming together here in Pankhurst. The teachers are all of one mind on organizing and most of us in nursing are in agreement as well. Whether to consolidate the two unions or keep them separate is just one of the issues.'
'I wonder where our library would fit in...?' Emmeline
deliberated.
'We'll fit you in somewhere, never worry!' Ernestine was the perfect name for her,Em thought. She was always so ardent in her passions, for healing, and equality, for what seemed to her, basic human rights.
Her mother was something of a local legend, a curandera, who was held in reverence by the townspeople, especially the womenfolk, who went to her for healing herbs and advice when the medical doctors could do nothing.Ernestine had inherited her intuitive gifts and had taken that much farther; having gone to Mexico City for her medical training.Her father was a respected scientist there, although he and Tina's mother were now separated.
She herself,was the perfect blending of old world herbal healing and modern allopathic medicine. Her de jure standing in the community was given her by an ingrained probity;she commanded respect simply by believing, no, by knowing that she deserved it.'I must speak with someone. I'll see you at the next meeting, if not before?' Em nodded and Tina disappeared into the throng.
Several speakers approached the podium then, and as the crowd began to take their seats, Alice nudged Emmeline and said, 'There's Lev,'her eyes on a figure standing to the far left of the stage. Typical! Thought Em. Oh, my. He hadn't changed in the years since she'd seen him last...how long ago has it been now? 2, 3 years? Still ruggedly handsome, one might call him. Lev, rarely a snappy dresser, looked like a typical poster of a factory worker from the North Countries; cap on his head at an angle shading his brow, arms crossed over his chest and sleeves rolled up to reveal hard,tanned forearms,farmhands' denim trousers held with braces, and heavy workboots, with not quite a scowl on his face, but looking as dead serious as he usually was. She remembered when they first met that she thought here was a guy she could never joke with, but she found out differently! He had a ready wit that soon had her in competition for comedic material and droll one-liners.He was a playwright as well as a union agitator, and all of his plays were heavily armed with Marxist rhetoric,'Lev-ened' by some of that much-needed waggishness.
Ah, Lev...still looking deadly attractive with his long fair-to-auburn curls tied back in leather laces at the nape of his neck like Paul Revere ready to ride and rouse the town to revolution. Best keep my mind on the business at hand, Em decided. Lev was still trouble, for her. And diosa knew that she'd had enough problems with men lately.
'Ladies and gents, workers and sympathizers!' A voice rang out over the hall and shushed everyone into silent attention. 'We meet here tonight not to debate on whether unionizing is needed or not, for of course it is, absolutely!'
This pronouncement was met with loud cheers and applause, some whistles. The older distinguished looking gentleman at the podium with longish white strands of wispy hair and a full handlebar moustache continued, 'This is only the beginning of what will soon become a full-on assault of workers, together, against those institutions, individuals, corporations and legislations which have been lately gaining ground against the rights of every worker to a living wage, a chance to pursue their chosen field of endeavor, and to do so in a safe and healthy environment.' Again, a loud chorus of agreement from the crowd.
'Didn't realize our humble purlieus boasted such a
rout of tovarishtchi!' Alice murmured. Em had to agree...it felt good to finally be amongst those with whom one felt comraderie,rather than constantly pushing uphill against the tide of management and their endless rules, demands, 'guidelines' they'd trump up just to make life a little crazier, and the brown-noses who kowtowed to them...
. . . .
A couple of hours and several impassioned speeches later, Alice, Em and Tina were gathered 'round the podium speaking together with some of the organizers who pressed more leaflets and newspapers upon them and made sure to receive their promises to attend the next meeting come January of the new year. Em was perusing one of the hastily printed papers, noting the ink smudges on her hands, when a shadow fell over the article she was scanning. She looked up into Lev's intent cornflower-blue gaze. 'Hello, Emmeline,' he
said, but he didn't smile she noted. Was he still...ambivalent toward her, she wondered? 'Hello, Lev. It's good to see you here. You're looking well.Back in town, then?'
He looked around, not answering for awhile. 'Briefly,' he admitted. 'You look well, too, Em.' He didn't seem pleased by this observation. He was always so hard to read... Well, it probably was generous of him to even approach me, I suppose, she decided. 'Are you organizing for the library?'he asked at last.
'I hope to. Oh, Lev, it's getting worse there all the time! I know we don't have to deal with unsafe work conditions like the factory workers...but the bosses seem to want to be rid of those of us who have been there some years, so that they may hire younger folk at low wages to replace us.'Em paused, seeing how Lev took all this in. 'I'm worried, frankly.''
'Yeah,' Lev sighed and reached down to retrieve his ever-present satchel and heaved it over one shoulder.
'It's a story I've heard many times before, Em. Don't let them push you out! Organize! Together, we can effect change.' At last the ghost of a smile hovered about his handsome mouth.'But you've heard my speech-making before, I think! Say, I'm putting out a paper now. The printer is working on the newest edition...possibly it will be out soon. Shall I drop afew off at your place? You're still at Alice's, I reckon?' She noticed his gaze slide briefly over her left hand, devoid of any gold band.
'Oh, yes, of course! It's home, after all. You're welcome by anytime, Lev. And your input is always on target! Alice and I are heading into the City for New Year's Eve, but we'll be home before and after.'
Lev glanced all-too-briefly into her eyes, then looked away. 'Remember the New Year's Eve we had together
watching the fireworks over the river?'
She remembered. All too well. 'I do. It was a wonderful way to welcome the new year...'she gave a brief shrug, 'Freezing though, wasn't it? And such a crowd!'
'I didn't notice.' Lev looked at her again, then switched his bag to the other shoulder. 'Well, I'm off, then! Give my best to Alice and Tina, will you?
I'll drop off the latest edition of the Comrades Cooperative Speaks, ah, as soon as the ink dries!' he allowed himself a half-grin, eyeing her hands. 'Viva la revolucion, Em!' and with that he swung himself off the stage and joined a throng of men who exited together.
'See you, Lev...'she said to his retreating back, rather wistful now.
Alice approached her then. 'Well! That was energizing!
Ready to hit the road, Em? Workday tomorrow, I fear.'
Em smiled and linked arms with Alice as they strode from the hall into the night air. She noticed Lev in a wagonload of men who were rattling off down the road singing songs of revolution to the accompaniment of guitar and concertina.
'Saw you talking with Lev.'Alice looked at her enquiringly as they sauntered home along the elm and sycamore lined avenues.
'Yes, we spoke briefly.' Em sighed. 'Oh, Alice...whatever became of us?'
'You broke it off with him, as I recall!' Alice stated matter-of-factly.'So, you should know.'
Em looked down at her boots. 'I know, I know. I had to. But I didn't want to. It was...complicated.'
Alice gazed ahead into the night sky, stars twinkling above them, and began to softly sing:'"The song...has ended but the melody lingers on...."She winked at Em. 'You both seemed to get along so well. You were always laughing, carrying on together. And rarely a moment apart, it seemed to me!'
'Maybe...that was part of the problem. Things were just then getting more difficult at work. And, well, I simply didn't have his inexhaustable Scorpio energy! We Libras wear out easily,by comparison; even from too much fun! Diosa, imagine complaining that a relationship was what, too good?' Em smiled. 'Well, actually, it wasn't all roses.' Damn, she remembered...the huge bouquet of roses he gave her on Valentine's Day. He was always ferociously thrifty, most comrades are...but for that special holiday he'd gone all-out. She began to get teary. This won't do! Get a grip, Em, she told herself.'I was exhausted...trying to keep up with him.He's a one-man tornado on fire, that one. And, as much as we had in common politically, we differed on some very important issues.'
'You argued alot then?'asked Alice, genuinely curious.
'No. Not at all. I never...brought it up. When I found out he felt the way he did about some issues, I was appalled. I kept it to myself...'
'Appalled? Truly?' Alice gave Em a droll appraisal.'weighed, measured and found wanting...'Al intoned sonorously.
' Eventually, all these minuses added up in my book...'Em shot Al a wry glance, 'and yes,I felt it was just time to end it.'finished Em. 'But now, hopefully we can just work together. As comrades should.'
'Em how can minuses add up? It's highly illogical.'
Alice was gazing at the stars...' Never thought of bringing up these...differences of opinion? Politics! You split because of fine print,Em?'...you know...'Alice began anew, 'I used to talk with Yeats alot, in the kitchen back at Jack's.'she looked over at Em, to see how she was taking all these blasts from the past, as it were,'and he made the sage observation that all relationships can be mollified by the use of regular intervals of wine and copious amounts of garlic...'
Em actually laughed then. 'Oh, Al...Lev and I never lacked for either wine or garlic!'
'Lev is a good guy to have on our side,'Alice concluded. She always did like Lev.
'It was complicated, like I said! And a long time ago!' Em quickened the pace, 'Anyway, he said he's publishing a newspaper now. He'll drop some issues off for us when the new edition is out.Okay by you, Al?'
Alice squeezed her arm,'Of course, cherie. Lev is always welcome. Will he be in town long?'
Em didn't think so. 'Apparently not. He seemed abit cagey as to his doings of late. I didn't press him.'
'Well, at any rate, tonight seemed a good beginning. At least we're not in this fight alone! That's something! Have we a chance at organizing our library, do you think?'Alice frowned slightly.
'We have to try, Alice! It's either that or just get walked all over by the likes of the Soup From On High!'
'...Soup From Hell, more like...'Alice muttered.
'Bloody Halfwaffle! It curdles my brain to think of her! Lets get some of these flyers into the hands of our colleagues at least! That's a start. Maybe some will have the gumption to show up for the next meeting, then!'
'Hope springs eternal...' Alice concluded as the two friends' footsteps echoed down the empty street and they rounded the corner that brought them at last to their quiet avenue home.
.....
The next day, although Em was raring to go, Alice had decided the best approach was to be as circumspect and subtle as possible. Of course, Em agreed, knowing Alice had much more to lose than she, should their agitating become cause for disciplinary action.
So they each approached, on their own, friends and colleagues with whom they had some measure of trust and allegiance, and left them with a handbill and invitation to the next town meeting.
Em was feeling that she'd actually put in a good day's work by closing time, unlike some days when she just felt frustration. We did a good thing for worker's rights, and we didn't compromise the library or our jobs, she determined, by our efficient yet clandestine means to that hopeful end.
She was humming 'There is Power in a Union' while she read some of the previous night's literature at the trolley stop, when she noted Alice heading across the street her way.
'Alice!' she smiled and waved, but she noticed her friends' troubled countenance as she approached.
'What's up, Al?'she asked, taking Alice's arm in hers.
Alice looked at her and her chin began to tremble.Em had rarely witnessed such emotion in her normally stoic friend. 'Oh, my dear. Here, let us sit down!' and Em led her over to a nearby bench.
Alice took a deep breath and pulled herself together.
Then she looked down and began, 'Oh, Em. I, I am to be transferred.'
'What? Where?' Em couldn't imagine where or why.
'To...to...Siberia!'...Alice sortof wailed out the 'iiiiaaaa' part as she blew her nose into her handkerchief.
'Alice! What do you mean? Tell me!' Em demanded.
'Well. I think it's because they found some of the handbills on my desk.' Alice looked up at Em at last.
'Oh, no...Oh Alice. It's all my fault! I'll go in and tell them so, first thing! They cannot lay the blame on you!' Em was aghast.
'But why not?' Alice dabbed at her eyes. 'I can't deny it! Oh, Em...it's just that...'
"Alice. Tell me. Where do they want to send you?'
'It's the old archives warehouse. Across town.' Alice looked glum.
'They can't! Nothing's out there! And what are you to do? No trolleys run that far out...' Emmeline suddenly knew this was war. Diosa! They couldn't do this!...could they?
'Oh, Em...I'm afraid my days of a long walk to work or a short trolley ride are over! The only problem is, I'm not the young athelete I once was...'
Em smiled painfully,'Alice,were you ever a young athlete?'
'Nooo...more's the pity...' Alice slumped over in total misery.
'Alice, no, don't despair! I promise you, I'll tell them they were mine! They can't do this to you! It's my fault--I insisted we flyer the library!' Em felt lower than a backsliding gambler pilfering granny's cookie jar savings.
Alice sighed in resignation. 'Em, I won't let you do it. You have much more to lose than I!'
'I do not!'
'Don't argue. You do. You need gainful employment. You always have a place to stay, with me, and I always have my widow's pension. Frank is as good as gone.'
Em touched Alice's shoulder. Alice continued,'I'll make it somehow, Em. Get a bicycle? I don't know. Don't think I can afford a horse and buggy...and where to put them?'
The trolley pulled up then and the two friends embarked and managed to land a seat together. 'We'll think of something, Alice. They won't get away with this!'
Alice just looked at Em with eyes that bespoke her thoughts of more misery to come. 'All we wanted was some respect. Some rights. We just want to be able to do our jobs!Is that too much to ask?'
Em shook her head and said nothing as they rode home.
. . . .
Soundtrack: 'Brother Can You Spare A Dime' and Devotchka has that perfect Eastern European and Latin gypsy flavor.
Say don't you remember when you used to call me Al?
It was Al all the time--
Buddy do you remember, you used to be my pal?
Buddy can you spare a dime?
An hour or so later with stew tasted and pronounced incredibly delicious, she fed MacGregor and sat at the breakfast nook as he appraised her with head cocked to one side. 'You, Sir, have been fed! And no, chilie peppers are definately not to your taste!' She and Alice always made sure to celebrate the fall harvest with plenty of dried chilies from the garden,herbs and mushrooms, and canning anything else that didn't move gave provender against the cold winter.
Where was Alice, anyway? Em knew they both had finished work at the same time, but Alice was not at the trolley stop when she headed home directly. Em sat at the table and pondered the day's events, Mac flopping at her feet. That signature sheet...bodes ill indeed, she decided, as she scratched his bristly head. 'Where's your mama, eh?' she asked. Mac sighed then, making her smile. My stars, but it's dark out! Where could the girl be?
Just then, Mac raised his head and 'whuff!'d.
'At last!' Em got up as Mac raced off to the front door.
'Oh, well now! My stars, dearie, it isn't as though I'd run off with the gypsies!'Alice bent to pick up Mac who was near wiggling out of his skin with joy to see his Numero Uno.
'Soup's on!' Em called from the kitchen, as she set bowls out for them both and a loaf of rye-caraway bread on the cutting board.
'Smells wonderful! I'm fair famished!' Alice exclaimed, hanging her coat and scarf in the hallway.
She washed up quickly then bent over the stove and dipped her spoon into the pot, thick with okra,mushrooms, tomatoes and rice, and chilies naturally.'Needs more chilie pepper!'she winked at Em.' But, not bad!'
'High praise indeed, coming from your mama!'Em addressed Mac who wagged in agreement. 'So! What have you been up to, then?' she asked as she took a seat and bent to her steaming supper.
Alice joined her and first savored several succulent sips of soup, purred like a cat and sat back before answering. 'Ummmm...Diosa, but that's what a body needs on a cold winter's eve! Good work, girl!' Al set to with knife upon rye then.'Have I got news!' she declaimed enigmatically.
Em cocked an eyebrow.
'Well! You recall the dread signature sheet we signed today? I took the matter up with some friends of mine.'
'Indeed, Al! Good! That has certainly been uppermost in my mind all day. I can't quite fathom what it portends...but I don't trust it.' Em sat back then,regarding Alice seriously.
'Exactly. I met with a couple of my old pals, a nurse and teacher, who have been trying to persuade their fellow workers into organizing for a labor union. You know one of them, I believe--Ernestine Guevara.'
'Oh,Ernestine! Truly? That's great news!' Em sat up now,'I haven't seen her since the night of the war games on the esplanade...'Em rested her chin on her hand in thought. 'That new 'guideline' as they call it...they're claiming that it was only instigated in order to target repeat offenders and take steps to get them to shape up or ship out.'
'Bull Frogs, Em!' Alice set her spoon down with a thwap. 'If that was the case, they'd simply deal with the bad apples, not the whole barrel! Oh, no. They are after the foolish long-timers like us who believe we actually have a career! Just you watch! They'll target us, and then we'll be replaced with youngsters desperate for work at bottom dollar!Not that I begrudge anyone a job.But we have worked hard, believe in our work as something worthwhile to the community. And we're good at what we do, doggone it!' Alice sighed and stood then. 'I have something to show you. Come into the parlor.'
...said the spider? Em thought as she followed Al and took a seat at one end of the sofa and curled up with Mac on his blanket in the middle.She could hear Alice rummaging about her coat pocket in the hallway. Alice then entered the room carrying papers which she proceeded to unroll.
'They look like handbills. Let's see, Al.'Em leaned foreward as Alice sat on the other side of Mac and
taking a glance at Em, Alice read: 'ORGANIZE! There Is Power In A Union!' She paused and handed Emmeline a couple of the flyers.
'Oh, Alice! At last! You know we've been talking about this ourselves! And I have spoken of it with Ernestine...' Em read the bill: 'Labor Meeting - Wednesday Evening 7pm - Community Center. A Grassroots Movement For Worker's Rights' Emmeline studied the papers. 'We're going!'
'You bet your boots.' Alice arose and went to the hallway.She returned boasting a handfull of handbills.
These she dropped triumphantly upon the tea table.
'Marvellous! Good work yourself, Al!' Em paused and reflected a moment, 'I wonder...dare we take them to work though? You know the chilly climate.'
Alice smiled her Cheshire cat smile. 'I'll give them a Chilie Climate!' She raised her fist in air. 'Viva la revolucion!'She and Em exchanged smiles. 'It was divine stew mi amiga. But...diosa! Where's the cayenne?'
Em grinned with determination. 'We should take them, don't you think?' She took up half the sheaf of bills.'And you're welcome to the stew!But you know I haven't your hot tongue, querida!'
'I'll give them muy caliente at the meeting Wednesday.'
Alice stared at the flyers.'By the way, I saw your old beau, Lev, at the printers when we went to pick these up.'
Emmeline leveled her gaze at Alice. 'Lev Kopalski?' She remembered.
'You two had quite the thing together at one time,'Alice ventured.
'Lev, back in Pankhurst.And, just in time for a labor demonstration!' Em smiled and shook her head slowly. 'Same old Lev.You're right, Al. We did have a great thing going. I miss him. But, it just wasn't in the stars.'
'Hm.' Alice regarded her. 'Well. He certainly remembers you. Asked about you, he did.'
Em sat back, her leaflets in hand, and stared into space. At last she closed her eyes and smiled again, a little wistfully. 'I remember Lev fondly.'She looked up then. 'And we had much in common. But...we had our differences too. Still...'she stared into the distance once more. 'it'd be nice to see him again.'
Alice stood. 'Wednesday night then.'
Em looked at her leaflets,'So it is written. So shall it be.'
. . . . .
The Community Center was lit up like a Christmas tree as the old song goes, and full of town&countryfolk as well as pro-union agitators from various parts.Wednesday was a good night for town meetings as the church also had prayer meetings then and so this kept the anti-union crowd down. However, there were one or two radical priests from out of town who actually had one foot on the ground as well as a head in the clouds, as it were. Alice and Emmeline jostled through the crowd trying to nab a couple of rare seats together. They'd just sat down near the podium when they heard a familiar voice call; " Em! Alice! Diosa, it's good to see you both!'
'Ernestine!' Em motioned her friend over and when she and Alice had hugged her hello, Ernestine began to regale them with the meeting's agenda in, well, earnest.
'At last! It looks as though it's coming together here in Pankhurst. The teachers are all of one mind on organizing and most of us in nursing are in agreement as well. Whether to consolidate the two unions or keep them separate is just one of the issues.'
'I wonder where our library would fit in...?' Emmeline
deliberated.
'We'll fit you in somewhere, never worry!' Ernestine was the perfect name for her,Em thought. She was always so ardent in her passions, for healing, and equality, for what seemed to her, basic human rights.
Her mother was something of a local legend, a curandera, who was held in reverence by the townspeople, especially the womenfolk, who went to her for healing herbs and advice when the medical doctors could do nothing.Ernestine had inherited her intuitive gifts and had taken that much farther; having gone to Mexico City for her medical training.Her father was a respected scientist there, although he and Tina's mother were now separated.
She herself,was the perfect blending of old world herbal healing and modern allopathic medicine. Her de jure standing in the community was given her by an ingrained probity;she commanded respect simply by believing, no, by knowing that she deserved it.'I must speak with someone. I'll see you at the next meeting, if not before?' Em nodded and Tina disappeared into the throng.
Several speakers approached the podium then, and as the crowd began to take their seats, Alice nudged Emmeline and said, 'There's Lev,'her eyes on a figure standing to the far left of the stage. Typical! Thought Em. Oh, my. He hadn't changed in the years since she'd seen him last...how long ago has it been now? 2, 3 years? Still ruggedly handsome, one might call him. Lev, rarely a snappy dresser, looked like a typical poster of a factory worker from the North Countries; cap on his head at an angle shading his brow, arms crossed over his chest and sleeves rolled up to reveal hard,tanned forearms,farmhands' denim trousers held with braces, and heavy workboots, with not quite a scowl on his face, but looking as dead serious as he usually was. She remembered when they first met that she thought here was a guy she could never joke with, but she found out differently! He had a ready wit that soon had her in competition for comedic material and droll one-liners.He was a playwright as well as a union agitator, and all of his plays were heavily armed with Marxist rhetoric,'Lev-ened' by some of that much-needed waggishness.
Ah, Lev...still looking deadly attractive with his long fair-to-auburn curls tied back in leather laces at the nape of his neck like Paul Revere ready to ride and rouse the town to revolution. Best keep my mind on the business at hand, Em decided. Lev was still trouble, for her. And diosa knew that she'd had enough problems with men lately.
'Ladies and gents, workers and sympathizers!' A voice rang out over the hall and shushed everyone into silent attention. 'We meet here tonight not to debate on whether unionizing is needed or not, for of course it is, absolutely!'
This pronouncement was met with loud cheers and applause, some whistles. The older distinguished looking gentleman at the podium with longish white strands of wispy hair and a full handlebar moustache continued, 'This is only the beginning of what will soon become a full-on assault of workers, together, against those institutions, individuals, corporations and legislations which have been lately gaining ground against the rights of every worker to a living wage, a chance to pursue their chosen field of endeavor, and to do so in a safe and healthy environment.' Again, a loud chorus of agreement from the crowd.
'Didn't realize our humble purlieus boasted such a
rout of tovarishtchi!' Alice murmured. Em had to agree...it felt good to finally be amongst those with whom one felt comraderie,rather than constantly pushing uphill against the tide of management and their endless rules, demands, 'guidelines' they'd trump up just to make life a little crazier, and the brown-noses who kowtowed to them...
. . . .
A couple of hours and several impassioned speeches later, Alice, Em and Tina were gathered 'round the podium speaking together with some of the organizers who pressed more leaflets and newspapers upon them and made sure to receive their promises to attend the next meeting come January of the new year. Em was perusing one of the hastily printed papers, noting the ink smudges on her hands, when a shadow fell over the article she was scanning. She looked up into Lev's intent cornflower-blue gaze. 'Hello, Emmeline,' he
said, but he didn't smile she noted. Was he still...ambivalent toward her, she wondered? 'Hello, Lev. It's good to see you here. You're looking well.Back in town, then?'
He looked around, not answering for awhile. 'Briefly,' he admitted. 'You look well, too, Em.' He didn't seem pleased by this observation. He was always so hard to read... Well, it probably was generous of him to even approach me, I suppose, she decided. 'Are you organizing for the library?'he asked at last.
'I hope to. Oh, Lev, it's getting worse there all the time! I know we don't have to deal with unsafe work conditions like the factory workers...but the bosses seem to want to be rid of those of us who have been there some years, so that they may hire younger folk at low wages to replace us.'Em paused, seeing how Lev took all this in. 'I'm worried, frankly.''
'Yeah,' Lev sighed and reached down to retrieve his ever-present satchel and heaved it over one shoulder.
'It's a story I've heard many times before, Em. Don't let them push you out! Organize! Together, we can effect change.' At last the ghost of a smile hovered about his handsome mouth.'But you've heard my speech-making before, I think! Say, I'm putting out a paper now. The printer is working on the newest edition...possibly it will be out soon. Shall I drop afew off at your place? You're still at Alice's, I reckon?' She noticed his gaze slide briefly over her left hand, devoid of any gold band.
'Oh, yes, of course! It's home, after all. You're welcome by anytime, Lev. And your input is always on target! Alice and I are heading into the City for New Year's Eve, but we'll be home before and after.'
Lev glanced all-too-briefly into her eyes, then looked away. 'Remember the New Year's Eve we had together
watching the fireworks over the river?'
She remembered. All too well. 'I do. It was a wonderful way to welcome the new year...'she gave a brief shrug, 'Freezing though, wasn't it? And such a crowd!'
'I didn't notice.' Lev looked at her again, then switched his bag to the other shoulder. 'Well, I'm off, then! Give my best to Alice and Tina, will you?
I'll drop off the latest edition of the Comrades Cooperative Speaks, ah, as soon as the ink dries!' he allowed himself a half-grin, eyeing her hands. 'Viva la revolucion, Em!' and with that he swung himself off the stage and joined a throng of men who exited together.
'See you, Lev...'she said to his retreating back, rather wistful now.
Alice approached her then. 'Well! That was energizing!
Ready to hit the road, Em? Workday tomorrow, I fear.'
Em smiled and linked arms with Alice as they strode from the hall into the night air. She noticed Lev in a wagonload of men who were rattling off down the road singing songs of revolution to the accompaniment of guitar and concertina.
'Saw you talking with Lev.'Alice looked at her enquiringly as they sauntered home along the elm and sycamore lined avenues.
'Yes, we spoke briefly.' Em sighed. 'Oh, Alice...whatever became of us?'
'You broke it off with him, as I recall!' Alice stated matter-of-factly.'So, you should know.'
Em looked down at her boots. 'I know, I know. I had to. But I didn't want to. It was...complicated.'
Alice gazed ahead into the night sky, stars twinkling above them, and began to softly sing:'"The song...has ended but the melody lingers on...."She winked at Em. 'You both seemed to get along so well. You were always laughing, carrying on together. And rarely a moment apart, it seemed to me!'
'Maybe...that was part of the problem. Things were just then getting more difficult at work. And, well, I simply didn't have his inexhaustable Scorpio energy! We Libras wear out easily,by comparison; even from too much fun! Diosa, imagine complaining that a relationship was what, too good?' Em smiled. 'Well, actually, it wasn't all roses.' Damn, she remembered...the huge bouquet of roses he gave her on Valentine's Day. He was always ferociously thrifty, most comrades are...but for that special holiday he'd gone all-out. She began to get teary. This won't do! Get a grip, Em, she told herself.'I was exhausted...trying to keep up with him.He's a one-man tornado on fire, that one. And, as much as we had in common politically, we differed on some very important issues.'
'You argued alot then?'asked Alice, genuinely curious.
'No. Not at all. I never...brought it up. When I found out he felt the way he did about some issues, I was appalled. I kept it to myself...'
'Appalled? Truly?' Alice gave Em a droll appraisal.'weighed, measured and found wanting...'Al intoned sonorously.
' Eventually, all these minuses added up in my book...'Em shot Al a wry glance, 'and yes,I felt it was just time to end it.'finished Em. 'But now, hopefully we can just work together. As comrades should.'
'Em how can minuses add up? It's highly illogical.'
Alice was gazing at the stars...' Never thought of bringing up these...differences of opinion? Politics! You split because of fine print,Em?'...you know...'Alice began anew, 'I used to talk with Yeats alot, in the kitchen back at Jack's.'she looked over at Em, to see how she was taking all these blasts from the past, as it were,'and he made the sage observation that all relationships can be mollified by the use of regular intervals of wine and copious amounts of garlic...'
Em actually laughed then. 'Oh, Al...Lev and I never lacked for either wine or garlic!'
'Lev is a good guy to have on our side,'Alice concluded. She always did like Lev.
'It was complicated, like I said! And a long time ago!' Em quickened the pace, 'Anyway, he said he's publishing a newspaper now. He'll drop some issues off for us when the new edition is out.Okay by you, Al?'
Alice squeezed her arm,'Of course, cherie. Lev is always welcome. Will he be in town long?'
Em didn't think so. 'Apparently not. He seemed abit cagey as to his doings of late. I didn't press him.'
'Well, at any rate, tonight seemed a good beginning. At least we're not in this fight alone! That's something! Have we a chance at organizing our library, do you think?'Alice frowned slightly.
'We have to try, Alice! It's either that or just get walked all over by the likes of the Soup From On High!'
'...Soup From Hell, more like...'Alice muttered.
'Bloody Halfwaffle! It curdles my brain to think of her! Lets get some of these flyers into the hands of our colleagues at least! That's a start. Maybe some will have the gumption to show up for the next meeting, then!'
'Hope springs eternal...' Alice concluded as the two friends' footsteps echoed down the empty street and they rounded the corner that brought them at last to their quiet avenue home.
.....
The next day, although Em was raring to go, Alice had decided the best approach was to be as circumspect and subtle as possible. Of course, Em agreed, knowing Alice had much more to lose than she, should their agitating become cause for disciplinary action.
So they each approached, on their own, friends and colleagues with whom they had some measure of trust and allegiance, and left them with a handbill and invitation to the next town meeting.
Em was feeling that she'd actually put in a good day's work by closing time, unlike some days when she just felt frustration. We did a good thing for worker's rights, and we didn't compromise the library or our jobs, she determined, by our efficient yet clandestine means to that hopeful end.
She was humming 'There is Power in a Union' while she read some of the previous night's literature at the trolley stop, when she noted Alice heading across the street her way.
'Alice!' she smiled and waved, but she noticed her friends' troubled countenance as she approached.
'What's up, Al?'she asked, taking Alice's arm in hers.
Alice looked at her and her chin began to tremble.Em had rarely witnessed such emotion in her normally stoic friend. 'Oh, my dear. Here, let us sit down!' and Em led her over to a nearby bench.
Alice took a deep breath and pulled herself together.
Then she looked down and began, 'Oh, Em. I, I am to be transferred.'
'What? Where?' Em couldn't imagine where or why.
'To...to...Siberia!'...Alice sortof wailed out the 'iiiiaaaa' part as she blew her nose into her handkerchief.
'Alice! What do you mean? Tell me!' Em demanded.
'Well. I think it's because they found some of the handbills on my desk.' Alice looked up at Em at last.
'Oh, no...Oh Alice. It's all my fault! I'll go in and tell them so, first thing! They cannot lay the blame on you!' Em was aghast.
'But why not?' Alice dabbed at her eyes. 'I can't deny it! Oh, Em...it's just that...'
"Alice. Tell me. Where do they want to send you?'
'It's the old archives warehouse. Across town.' Alice looked glum.
'They can't! Nothing's out there! And what are you to do? No trolleys run that far out...' Emmeline suddenly knew this was war. Diosa! They couldn't do this!...could they?
'Oh, Em...I'm afraid my days of a long walk to work or a short trolley ride are over! The only problem is, I'm not the young athelete I once was...'
Em smiled painfully,'Alice,were you ever a young athlete?'
'Nooo...more's the pity...' Alice slumped over in total misery.
'Alice, no, don't despair! I promise you, I'll tell them they were mine! They can't do this to you! It's my fault--I insisted we flyer the library!' Em felt lower than a backsliding gambler pilfering granny's cookie jar savings.
Alice sighed in resignation. 'Em, I won't let you do it. You have much more to lose than I!'
'I do not!'
'Don't argue. You do. You need gainful employment. You always have a place to stay, with me, and I always have my widow's pension. Frank is as good as gone.'
Em touched Alice's shoulder. Alice continued,'I'll make it somehow, Em. Get a bicycle? I don't know. Don't think I can afford a horse and buggy...and where to put them?'
The trolley pulled up then and the two friends embarked and managed to land a seat together. 'We'll think of something, Alice. They won't get away with this!'
Alice just looked at Em with eyes that bespoke her thoughts of more misery to come. 'All we wanted was some respect. Some rights. We just want to be able to do our jobs!Is that too much to ask?'
Em shook her head and said nothing as they rode home.
. . . .
Soundtrack: 'Brother Can You Spare A Dime' and Devotchka has that perfect Eastern European and Latin gypsy flavor.
Say don't you remember when you used to call me Al?
It was Al all the time--
Buddy do you remember, you used to be my pal?
Buddy can you spare a dime?
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