The Summer We Got Saved by Pat Cunningham Devoto

Author:Pat Cunningham Devoto [DEVOTO, PAT CUNNINGHAM]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780446519946
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 26

Banking Business

THAT DAY, he wore his blue suit, one of the two he owned. The seat was slick and the knees were noticeably worn, but she thought he looked the picture of a gentleman when he opened the front door of the bank for her, removed his hat, and walked up to the nearest teller, holding his box. He had told her on the way to town that he wanted to make sure the safe was fireproof and that it was locked up good and tight every night. She had said she thought that would be a good idea.

Of course everybody knew Calvin. He had been around Bainbridge all his life. Still, there was much consternation over the Buster Brown box. The teller told the vice president, a young boy not long out of the university, and the vice president came out to see the box. He then called the head of the foundry to see if Calvin had really been working there as long as he claimed. With each query, they stood patiently at the front teller’s window, waiting. Maudie began to think that she should not have let Mr. Calvin bring his money here. They were looking at him as if he were some kind of a thief. Each time another question was asked, Calvin’s head took on that crouched look she had seen on nights when he didn’t know the answer to something she might ask him. His eyes scanned the floor and then the wall behind the person who was speaking. She stepped up and began explaining why he had the box of money. It had not helped, probably even made it worse. The teller and the vice president had asked who she was, and when she had mentioned the voting school, there was more silence and staring and shifting of feet. It was the first time she had felt pride at being connected with the voting school. Finally, the vice president said he guessed it was all right, that they would accept the money provisionally and wait to see if any had been reported missing.

There was silence as the teller and the vice president stood on one side of the teller cage and Maudie and Mr. Calvin on the other.

“Provisionally?” Maudie glared at the vice president. “Provisionally?” She began taking the stacks of money that were already on the counter and putting them back in the box. “Mr. Calvin Jerome has been in this town, has worked in this town, all his life. He doesn’t need anything provisionally. He needs a good bank that will protect his money, and I think the one down the block will do just fine.”

Calvin picked up the box top, waiting to cover his money once she had finished repacking.

There was a voice from behind them. “Donald, don’t tell me you’re letting all that good money get out of here and end up at the First National.” Maudie kept packing. “Donald, everybody in town knows Cal. He’s worked at the foundry for—what is it, Cal, forty years?”

The man came up and put a hand on Mr.

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