Glimpses of An Election

*****

The next morning, after Susan had gone off to discuss who was going to ring which doorbells, Cat carried the garbage out to the curb. He turned around and realized that Mrs. Warrener had been watching him.

"Good Morning, Ma'am."

"You do keep the place very neat, Lieutenant."

"Thank you, it's a nice place to live." And he started back to the apartment. She was not that casual.

"I suppose you have to deal with the coloreds out there?" No place to hide.

"Well, yes, Ma'am. They do important work that helps all...."

"I hear they been getting pretty uppity since the war."

"No, Ma'am. They just sometimes get tired and grumpy like the rest of us. Airplanes take a lot out of you, Mrs. Warrener, even if you're not flying them. Got to keep them pretty close to perfect."

"That's not what I mean, Lieutenant. Some coloreds know their place, but lots of 'em just pushy Niggers nowadays. Don't want none of that kind around here, Lieutenant."

"Don't know any like that, Ma'am."

"Well, I've lived here all my life, Lieutenant, and you'd be wise to keep it that way."

With that she turned aside and walked across the street to greet a friend tending her garden.

Cat knew all that meant something unsaid, but he wasn't sure whether she was talking about having Negroes into the house, or whether she had talked to that Klan man who was at the meeting.

-- Shit. Like Run-Run said: Just fly the airplane, sonny.

He forgot about it in the excitement of the phone call that came just as he started to run the carpet sweeper around the house.

"Lieutenant Wye."

"Lieutenant, I'm one of the yeomen under Chief Johns and I was there last night and took notes on what happened and...."

"You get it word-for-word?"

"Pretty close, Sir. I got a 3.9 on my shorthand exam. And I was wonderin' if you'd like the notes for that newspaper. Maybe I could even help you with that if...."

"What's your name and where are you?"

"Tim Roberts, Sir, and I'm down town on liberty till 0200 and I could...."

"I'll meet you in the lobby of the hotel in thirty minutes. I'm in civvies, but...."

"I know your looks, Lieutenant. I'll be there."

Cat first called the Lees. She answered.

"Elizabeth, this is Cat. We got notes on all that happened last night and I think we ought to get out a special issue by Monday. You got some time to talk about it? I can get out to the store."

Table of Contents

• Introduction

1. Maggie and Mr. Hank
2. The Reverend
3. Squalls Along the Flight Line
4. Flying Home to Church
5. A Visit with The Judge
6. Communion
7. Afterthoughts
8. Monday Morning With The Admiral
9. Into the Dining Room
10. On Toward Walking the Streets
11. Glimpses of An Election
12. The Dream and The Reality of Violence
13. The Admiral Loses More Than a Few Good Men
14. Down That Lonesome Road

• Cast of Characters
• Credits and Acknowledgements