“That’ll make you go blind.”
“Ha ha. No, I’m strictly working at this event. Don’t suppose you and Sid want to come lend a gal a hand?”
“Sorry,” she said, slathering olive-laced cream cheese onto the bagel before wrapping it in wax paper. “Tuesday night is TV night for us. Popcorn and root beer in front of the boob tube.” She bobbed her head toward the crowd in the main room. “You just here for lunch or are you covering Glokkmann for the paper?”
“Funny you should ask. I might be doing a little article on her.”
She finished filling a mug with hot water, popped in an unbleached bag of tea leaves, and set it on a tray next to my bagel. “Ron ask for it?”
Dang she knew me well. “Does he ever know what he wants? I better get to it.” I paid for my purchase, grabbed the bagel in one hand and the tea in the other, and sauntered to the outskirts of the room. I was glad I hadn’t sat in the center because Tanya had chosen that moment to lead the assembled reporters in a “nondenominational prayer that gives thanks to God.” I bowed my head so anyone cheating on the prayer wouldn’t see me chewing.
After the lengthy prayer, neither Tanya nor Glokkmann ate. Instead, Tanya played the role of “voter” and interviewed Glokkmann about what she called “family values issues.” They set it up like a fireside chat, two friends talking, with a dozen reporters scribbling down notes. Tanya mostly lobbed softballs: “How important are schools to you?” “How crucial do you think a strong family base is for our community?” I tuned it out and scarfed my lunch, wondering if anyone could hear me moan. The combination of chewy bagel and creamy cool cheese accented with salty bits of green and black olives was embarrassingly good.
Unfortunately, the clock was running out for me. I was hoping to meet with Glokkmann one-on-one to ask some questions, but it was looking like I wouldn’t have time for that before work. I was about to give it up for the day and head out when Tanya’s question fried my ears.
“What are your views on gay marriage?” She had the prim smile of a nanny changing a smelly diaper.
Glokkmann, the consummate politician, responded. “I think they are welcome to their personal lifestyle choices, but marriage is sacrosanct and should remain between a man and a woman.”
They were talking about people who were gay like they were some weird hybrid zoo creature. Tanya nodded approvingly and said, “Shall we say a prayer for lesbians?”
Grace stepped over and whispered something about gay men in Tanya’s ear. She listened, and then frowned. “Oh no, dear, they can’t be helped. Just the lesbians.”
My last bite of bagel caught in my throat. I was reaching for a book off the shelf to lob at Tanya’s superior smile when I saw Curtis Poling stand in the back of the room. I’d been so fixated on my bagel and Glokkmann that I hadn’t noticed he was here. Curtis was the Senior Sunset stud, a 90-year-old man with beautiful clear eyes and teeth that were as perfect as the day he’d bought them. Many in town thought he was crazy, probably because he could be found fishing off the roof of the Sunset on any given day. Those of us who knew him personally knew that was just a quirk that kept him from getting bored. He was still as smart as a steel trap, probably too smart for his own good. I wondered how he’d snuck out of the Sunset this day. “Phoo-ey,” he said.
I spotted a few other locals around him nodding their heads. Tanya ignored him and went on with her prayer.
“I said
Tanya flushed. “The Bible says-”
“Bible shmible. You’re a bully, always have been. Just because you’re hanging out with a whole bunch of other bullies on that issue doesn’t make you any less wrong.”
“Shut up, Curtis Poling! I walk in The Light!”
“Looks like the Dark Ages from where I’m sitting,” someone behind Curtis muttered loudly. I craned my neck and saw it was the owner of the new flower shop. I wanted to hug him. His comment set off a firestorm of others, and suddenly reporter and local alike were distancing themselves from Tanya’s words. Even Glokkmann looked like she wished she could beam herself to a different conversation.
I became aware that Nancy and Sid were standing behind me. I turned and offered a half-smile. Nancy’s face was a mix of sad and grateful. Sid had smoke coming out of her ears.
“If only Tanya knew how close she was to the enemy,” I whispered.
Sid shrugged. “She knows. What she doesn’t know is that I sneezed in her food. She should be fully gay by the next full moon. Her husband will surely be relieved.”
“Sid!” Nancy gasped and swatted her arm. “You wouldn’t dare sneeze in someone’s food.”
Sid and I exchanged a grin and returned our attention to the main room. Curtis was on his way out in protest, and most of the townspeople were following him. Glokkmann stood to pretend that she was calling the press conference to an end rather than acknowledge that it imploded. She ignored Tanya, and I couldn’t but hope that Tanya would get to feel the sharp side of the representative’s tongue later.
I was about to leave on that positive note when Glokkmann called my name.
“Mira!”
I turned. How did she know who I was? But of course-Grace was standing behind her. I walked over and held out my hand. Up close, she looked older than I expected, or more tired. Her makeup was cracking at the edges. “Pleased to meet you, Representative Glokkmann. Quite a gathering.”
“Call me Sarah,” she said. “Grace tells me you’re a reporter here in town, and you want to do a story on my work here?”
Not what I’d call work, but I wasn’t writing what anyone would call a story, so I didn’t split hairs. “I would. I’ll of course cover today’s talking points, but I’d also like to ask you some questions. I have to go open the library now, but maybe tomorrow?”
“I’m sure we can figure something out. Grace, how does my schedule look?”
Grace consulted her handheld. “Your next opening is Thursday.”
“You plan on staying that long?” I asked.
Her tense smile tightened. “I feel it’s my responsibility to listen to my constituents when Congress isn’t in session. I’ll be in Battle Lake as long as that takes.”
Or for the murder investigation to wrap up. “Great! What time Thursday, and where would you like to meet?”
“How about 10:00 a.m. at the library?”
“Perfect,” I said. “We don’t open until noon so that would give us uninterrupted time to talk. I appreciate it.”
“It would be helpful if the library was open earlier,” she said, her brow furrowing.
“I agree. Our funding was cut.”
“Oh no, that’s not right. That’s not right at all. I will have to see what I can do about that. In the meanwhile, what do you say about changing the Thursday library hours?”
“Changing them to what?”
“Ten to whatever time you’re scheduled to close.”
“I can do that this Thursday, but like I said, there’s no funding for longer hours.”
She wrinkled her nose. “There must be a way to cut corners. You like your job?”
I didn’t like the direction this conversation was taking. Yet. “Yeah, I do.”
“And does the town love its library?”
“I think so.”
“Then you’ll find a way, I know you will, even if it means taking a pay cut. In tough times, we all have to tighten our belts.” She nodded her head brusquely. “I’ll see you Thursday at 10:00 a.m.”
“Thank you so much,” I said acidly. Out of the corner of my eye, I noted Tanya eavesdropping on our conversation and smiling broadly. I mentally stuck my tongue out at her.
“My pleasure,” Glokkmann said, but she was already looking over my shoulder. Most of the reporters had left.
On my way out, I heard Glokkmann thanking Nancy for her wonderful food and hospitality. I wondered if Sid was going to let the representative walk out without giving her a piece of her mind.
