Village Squire, 1976-03, Page 17in that big school we can find to take pictures. Leave it with me
and I'll get back to you."
By four o'clock that afternoon I thought my hangover was
finally gone, but it came back exactly at the time Harry Howard
walked in the door.
"It's all arranged," he said confidently. I said I was happy and
that I supposed he'd be back off to Toronto now.
Oh no, he said, there was still much to be done, little details to
be looked after. He'd drop in to see me in the morning.
He did, of course, right in the middle of a hectic rush to get
some pictures developed and printed in time to meet early
deadline.
"I arranged to rent the auditorium," he said. "We can have
the presentation and take the pictures there. I got thinking last
night though, that the Minister will be working right up to the
time he comes here. He probably won't have had any supper.
think it would be a good idea if we had a little lunch or something
at the reception. Do you know any ladies group that might be able
to provide one?"
I sent him to a local minister to get in touch with a ladies group.
That got him out of the way for a little while at least, I thought.
But not for long.
That afternoon he was back in the middle of my trying to sort
out the intricacies of the town's zoning act in connection with a
baffling town council meeting of the night before which I had to
translate into common sense for the citizens who didn't really
give a darn anyway. He'd made the arrangements, he said. Just a
little snack for 25.
Twenty-five, I said. I thought it was just parents and a few
friends. Well, he said, he realized that there was a few other
people whashould be there. He'd got wondering, he said, if there
shouldn't 6e a little something to brighten up the event, keep
people entertained. I suggested our little blonde but he didn't
seem to like the idea. He had something a little more refined,
like music.
Well, I said, the school had a music club, maybe he could get a
couple of kids to come out and play their trumpets or something.
Good idea, he said, and rushed off. If, I thought, I can come up
with enough good ideas to keep him busy we might just get this
newspaper out this week.
Well, that idea lasted until the next morning when he showed
up again.
"I've got the music," he said. I asked how many young
musicians he got.
"Thirty-five," he said.
"Thirty-five!"
"Well, the whole band was there practicing and I just couldn't
decide which ones to choose. Besides, they were very good I
thought they'd add a little pizzaz to the whole affair."
"But that's more than the number of guests you've gut
coming."
Not any more."
How many?" I asked suspiciously.
orty-three." he said. My lord, I thought, thank goodness the
presentation is tomorrow night he'd have thousands. I didn't see
him again that day. He must have been too busy. I heard about
him though. Ted Hanley, the printer, phoned to ask me what
should goon the invitations. What invitations, I asked. The one s
Mr. Howard had ordered, he explained. Mr. Howard had said I
was helping him out. He couldn't find Mr. Howard and thought I
might know whether the dinner was to be at 6:30 or 6:45.
Dinner? I asked. Dinner, he confirmed. Did he happen to know
what was on the menu? Mr. Howard had mentioned something
about prime rib roast, he said. Some snack, I thought.
Once the paper was finally put to bed that night, I got more
time to think about the event ahead. In fact all day Thursday I
kept imagining how grand this one simple ceremony might have
grown.
When I arrived at the school that evening I realized that my
wildest dreams were too modest. I was turned away at the door
by a rather officious gentleman because I hadn't worn my jacket
and tie. 1 tried to explain but to no avail. When I arrived back
after a swift trip home to change, the metallic grey limousine of
the Minister was just pulling up and the chauffeur let him out.
Three strong, silent types escorted him to the door.
I followed them at a respectful distance. Inside the auditorium,
"3.'
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