The War Chamber Read Free Page B

not cool, the balmy evening air.
    In groups of two's and three's, the townspeople enter. Some try to cool themselves with hand-held bamboo fans, while others, resigned to the sticky humidity, blot perspiration from their faces with limp handkerchiefs. In moments, every seat is filled, including the extra chairs set up in the aisles to accommodate the overflow.
    David anxiously awaits the dialog to come and positions himself to the side of the dais so he can face the audience as well as the members of the commission. He will only be able to read the lips of the people in the front rows but, with the help of his teacher Lucille McCormick, who will sign for him, David won't miss any remarks made from the back of the room.
    Seated on the dais are Isaac and Janice Cole, president of Cole Shipping where Isaac is vice president. They both sit rigidly, anticipating the controversy soon to arise.
    Mayor John Fiori leans over to the planning commissioner to clarify a clause in Cole Shipping's written proposal then stands at the lectern to begin the Town Meeting.
    “Last time I saw this hall so packed, we were voting on whether or not to allow a pizza parlor on the wharf,” the Mayor quips, recalling years of sparse attendance.
    A ripple of laughter spreads through the crowd. Tony Santori, owner of the Pizza Palace, laughs the heartiest. “But tonight, friends, we are here to decide on a matter far more important than how many restaurants and curio shops we need to attract tourists to Port Avalon. Tonight, we will be deciding on an issue that could change the face of our town and the course of our lives forever.
    “Now, I beseech you to read the information in your packets carefully before coming to any bull-headed decisions.” The crowd chuckles again. “At this time, I'm going to turn the meeting over to Janice Cole, whom you all know and respect. She'll explain the situation in down to earth terms, and then we'll open it up to questions.”
    David joins in the rousing applause for Janice Cole, who single-handedly took back the company her unscrupulous former boss Nathan Fischbacher had swindled from her parents. She saved Isaac's job as well as the jobs of all the company's employees, and became a close friend and ally. David welcomed the warm relationship between this lovely woman and his father who had been far too lonely since Billie died.
    “Thank you, Mayor Fiori. And thank all of you for coming here tonight,” Janice says, nodding in welcome recognition to hand waves from the audience.
    “We at Cole Shipping realize we could have made the decision to accept the government's contract behind closed doors.” Janice's voice is nervously hesitant at first, but takes on a more confident tone as she continues. “But this issue affects not only our company's standing on Wall Street, it affects the lives of you, our friends and neighbors. Port Avalon is a family town. We treasure our camaraderie, our traditional values, our willingness to support one another in good times and bad.”
    “The bad times are a-comin',” someone calls out, half joking.
    “The bad times are here,” another man injects soberly. Murmurs of agreement swell. Janice raises her hand to quiet them.
    “I know you've been hit very hard. No one would like to see that change more than I.”
    What people like most about Janice Cole is that her humility is sincere, despite her silver-spoon upbringing. But her strength under fire belies the almost delicate persona. Finishing School grace and a “don't mess with me” toughness. David has seen all facets of her and knows she must have given that Navy liaison a run for his money. He knows his dad did.
    And now, David shifts in his seat excitedly, expecting that Janice will rally the townspeople to reject a government contract to build war ships. Instead, his stomach rolls in shock at the surprising content of her speech.
    “Cole Shipping is a family business and I'd like to think we can share our good