Open Writing

Mrs. Edna Waters was returning from her attendance at a town meeting in Waterville where the citizens were concerned because their water supply was threatened by a drought and the water level in the local reservoir had been steadily declining. 'Hey, Jack, 'she said, 'Why weren't you at the town meeting? You need this town as much as I do and the people frequently rely upon your proven wisdom when it comes to matters such as this.'

Jack Waters turned in his chair to face his wife and said, 'Damn it, Edna, I have given much of my life to the welfare of this town. I have come out for all of the fire drills, emergencies and have even rescued my neighbor's cat when it got stuck up a tree. Can't you see that we are getting old and tired and its time that someone else stepped in when there is a town crisis?' Jack rotated in his chair to face the television that he had abandoned when his wife arrived.

Edna scowled at her husband and said, 'Jack you know that most of these people are morons who have trouble tying their shoelaces. How do you expect them to be able to solve a problem like this water shortage? You know, you and I have been blessed with both brains and money and we should consider it to be our duty to take care of these poor folk.' It sounded like she was stamping her feet as she walked out of the room to go to the kitchen to make something to eat.

Jack's TV program concluded. He rose from his chair and went to search for his wife. He found her on the sun porch, crying into her sandwich. 'Oh, there, there, my dear,' he said, 'Don't take it so hard. These people really don't deserve to share this town with persons of our talent and wealth. Won't they learn something if they take the initiative in solving their own problems?'

'Jack, Jack, we can't just sit here and let our friends and neighbors slowly die of thirst as well as losing their beautiful town,' sobbed Edna, 'We must step in and help them.'

Jack studied his tear-laden wife, 'I'll tell you what. I will attend the next meeting to discuss this problem and I will do my best to help the people overcome this drought. In the meantime, I will consult my friend, Jupiter, who owns a large engineering firm in Gotham City, about the technical solution to the problem and its likely cost.'

The next day, Jack drove to Gotham City and met with Jupiter, his old friend from college. Jupiter said that he was familiar with the problem and he then suggested the following: 'The river that supplies the existing reservoir provides enough water for the town. The problem is that the existing dam leaks into the earth and it is not high enough to hold the quantity of water needed now, or in the near future. What we need to do is to build a new dam and upgrade the water pumping and purification equipment.'

'Jupiter, what would be the ballpark price tag on this project?' asked Jack, 'The town is none too solvent as it is.'

Jupiter scratched a few numbers on a pad, ran his calculator and smiled at Jack as he said, 'Jack, I am sure that this can be done for about six million dollars.'

Jack stepped back a pace. He screwed up his face and said, 'Hey, Jupiter, I don't know where Waterville will get that kind of scratch. We are already up to our elbows in debt for the new schools.'

Jupiter said, 'Jack, you could personally pay the six mil out of your pocket change. This may be your last chance to be memorialized as the town's greatest benefactor.' Jack crammed his hands in his pockets, thanked Jupiter and headed back toward home.

He walked in the door of the house and met Edna in the kitchen. Jack told Edna the story of his meeting, sat down and said, 'I am sick of being rich. People keep demanding one thing after another. I get no peace.'

Edna gazed admiringly at him and exclaimed, 'Jack, this is your last chance to be the town hero. Please do this one for me!'

Jack said, 'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a dam!'

© Colin Fisher

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Colin writes for Bonzer magazine. Please click on www.bonzer.org.au