When they got inside her office Pete Plimpler looked around, then walked over to
the window. Mrs. Haliburton took off her coat and asked what the problem was.
Pete Plimpler cleared his throat; he spoke in a clear measured tone. Mrs. Haliburton
was stunned by what she heard.
"He had the nerve, are you listening, Noreen?…he had the audacity to suggest I give
up my office…that's what he said…he wants me to switch rooms…give up my room,
with the view…exactly…that's what I'm saying, he moves here, I go there!"
Pete Plimpler was quite serious. Might Mrs. Haliburton not feel more comfortable, he
began respectfully, occupying his office, away from "the hurly burly" of the second floor?
The reason was simple: the location of her office, directly above the Principal's office,
made it ideal for quick communication between someone like himself and "our mutual
friend" below. Besides, with the elevator breaking down when it felt like, the logistics
of the situation would seem to suggest such an arrangement could be of benefit to
everyone.
"Well, honey," she told Noreen,"I. don't. give. a pail of horse droppings about the
logistics of his situation..that's right! They're going to have to get a court order to
make me vacate this room."
Actually, she was pleased with the way she handled Pete Plimpler that morning. She
tried not to look startled; she listened with fingers splayed thoughtfully on her jaw, her
eyes never wavering. And she gave the impression she was somewhat intrigued by the
proposal.
When he'd finished Pete Plimpler focussed his beady eyes on her face, convinced by
her nodding silence that he'd persuaded her, that she would acquiesce. He seemed to
be waiting for a response right on the spot.
But the phone rang and Mrs. Haliburton picked it up. She raised her hand, a finger
asked him to hold on one moment. Pete Plimpler didn't care to hold on while she talked
on the phone. He wiggled his finger and whispered he'd get back to her on the matter,
no hurry; and he slipped out the door.
"Noreen, didn't I tell you something like this was going to happen?…that's what I said
too…exactly…well, he'd better get ready to rumble with this black woman."
(from "Ah Mikhail, O Fidel!" a novel by N.D.Williams, 2001)
FARJOURNEY CARIBBEAN 