The Quarry by Laurie Loveman

Author:Laurie Loveman [Loveman, Laurie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

There was some shifting in seats, a few low whispers, but most of the quarrymen in the Grange Hall were listening intently to Woodhill law director, Mel Gerstein. Mel was one of three attorneys in town. He was respected and well-liked, which is why he was doing the speaking instead of Mayor Bob Gleason, who tended to put people on the defensive. Gleason was seated to one side of the table that served as a speaker’s podium and Morry Gemmelman was seated at the other side of the table. Aaron and Boris were in the front row of the audience.

Mel closed the meeting with, “So, although the announcement of the closing was this afternoon, as we expected it to be, tomorrow morning at ten o’clock, Mr. Gemmelman, Mayor Gleason and I will meet in Cleveland with the owners of Liberty Sand and Gravel and present our proposal. Now, understand, we may have an immediate response—that is, an approval of our offer to buy the quarry property, equipment, and homes—or, they may want time to consider the offer. If that’s the case, I’m going to ask that they suspend their January fifth closing and keep the quarry operating until the sale is complete. Are there any further questions, either for me or for Mayor Gleason or Mr. Gemmelman?”

Mel scanned the audience, estimating that of the fifty men crammed into the room only a few looked less anxious than when the meeting started an hour ago. “If there are no further questions, I’ll say goodnight on behalf of Mayor Gleason and Mr. Gemmelman. Please let me assure you that the minute we have an answer tomorrow, we’ll notify Mr. Hegerty or Mr. Chandler so they can relay the news to you. Thank you for your attention.”

Aaron and Boris planned to leave the Grange Hall with the three speakers, but before they did, Boris stepped up to the desk and held his hands up for silence. “Remember, men, we keep working as usual until we’re told different. You probably want to talk about things among yourselves, so go ahead. You can stay here at the Grange Hall as late as you want, just remember that the last man to leave has to lock up. Goodnight.”

Outside, Gleason said, “I think they’ll stay calm.”

Morry Gemmelman shook his head. “Those men are so tightly controlled, Bob, it would take very little to set them off. I haven’t felt that amount of tension since my unit captured Belleau Wood. My blood ran cold for a few minutes in there when you talked about the evictions.”

“Morry’s right,” Mel said. “I felt it, too.”

Boris said, “As long as I can keep them working steady, they’ll hold their tempers.”

“It’s shaky,” Aaron interjected. “Don’t make guarantees, Boris, not in this situation.”

“Well, then, let’s pray,” Gleason said as he strode to his car. “Goodnight, gentlemen. I don’t know about you, but it’s already seven o’clock and I haven’t had dinner. I’ll be at home if I’m needed.”

Boris and Aaron walked to their cars also.

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