Fear of Frying

instructors individually, and the crowd that had slowly gathered in the lobby and dining room, as local people who had been invited to participate.

Jane and Shelley glanced down the list: Leatherwork, quilting, fishing, boating, local history, local flora and fauna, bird-watching, aerobic exercise, swimming, language lessons — the list went on forever.

“The school board and city council are welcome, of course, to delete any of these they don't want and add their own instructors and subjects,' Benson said. 'This is just an example. Not all of these classes will actually be held today. The asterisked ones indicate literature only, which is being put out on a table in the lobby. There are sign-up sheets out there, too. It would help the instructors to know approximately how many people to expect.”

Jane glanced at the schedule. There was nothing in the first two-hour slot that interested her. 'I think I'll see if Allison is free to gossip about computer stuff,' she told Shelley.

“You aren't dying to know about You and the Mammals?'

“Mammals, schmammals,' Jane said breezily. 'But I do want to go on the bird-watching hike if it doesn't start raining again. It looks like it will.'

“Well, I'm going to the leatherwork class,' Shelley said.

“Sounds kinky to me.'

“It probably won't be, but one can always hope,' Shelley said.

They went to sign up and unfortunately got behind Sam and Marge. Sam had his right arm around his wife and didn't let go even to sign up for the classes he wanted. They were so absorbed in each other that they didn't even notice that the women behind them were the ones who had announced his death. Jane noticed Sam was signing both of them up for several classes.

The first class wasn't to begin for fifteen minutes, so Jane and Shelley went back for another cup of coffee. Shelley looked thoughtful. 'Jane, this must be costing Benson a considerable amount, bringing in all these people.'

“Aren't most of them local?'

“Probably,' Shelley said, 'but he's still got to at least feed them and probably put a couple of them up for the night. He couldn't ask them to do this and then charge them for food and lodging. He's really going all out to impress us. It was very smart of him to invite the local people. It makes us seem less isolated. He's created a feeling for what this place is like when it's busy and full of people having a good time. Very clever.'

“Shelley, what do you think of this summer camp thing?”

Shelley thought for a moment. 'I'm not sure. I thought it was a great idea at first, but as irritating and belligerent as Liz is, she has a point. Parents or organizations should pay for summer camp unless it's primarily educational. Why should taxpayers fund it? If we were here on behalf of an inner-city school where the kids have little opportunity to really get a big dose of nature, I'd probably favor it. I guess it does come down to a question of exactly what does constitute education?”

Jane nodded. 'I don't think anyone has a good fix on that anyway — despite Liz's views. We'll never go back to straight reading, writing, and arithmetic. And we probably shouldn't. I know my kids have benefited personally from some school activities that weren't strictly academic.”

She spotted Benson nearby and interrupted herself. 'Benson, Allison and I have a date to talk computers. I haven't seen her around. Next time you run into her, would you ask what would be a good time?'

“She told me. She's excited about talking to you. My mother and I aren't much into cyber-stuff, as she calls it. I'll check with her right now.' He was back in a minute, to invite Jane upstairs to their private quarters.

“I'm off to do leatherwork,' Shelley said. 'Possibly to design an exotic garment that will shock and delight my husband. See you later.”

The private quarters upstairs were wonderful, open and airy. There was a large central room that ran the length of the front of the building like the top of a T. Running back from the center was a kitchen and dining area. There was a big fireplace at the far end, which must have been directly above the fireplace in the lobby. To each side of the kitchen was a bedroom, sitting room, and bath suite. One was Benson and Allison's, the other Edna's. The perfect setup for both family life and personal privacy.

“This is fabulous!' Jane exclaimed as Allison showed her around. A counter ran along the entire front of the main section. There were six windows, with bookshelves between each, making them appear to be recessed, like dormers. At the far window, nearest Allison and Benson's suite, a very fancy sewing machine was set up. In the area behind it sat a huge quilting frame with a half-done red and green Christmas quilt on it.

The next window area was a desk for Allison's computer and printer. Cabinets beneath held paper, and the shelves next to it had a bookstore's worth of manuals. The third window contained a profusion of colorful house plants. A few of them were very fragrant, filling the large room with their perfume.

The other three windows, on Edna's end of the main room, were almost empty by comparison. A single old, well-shaped rubber plant was in front of one, a colorful miniature totem pole in another, and the third was bare. Edna's bookshelves were sparse, too. Only one was full, and it consisted entirely of paperback mysteries. Another had a pile of crossword-puzzle magazines, several dictionaries, and a thesaurus. Edna's end of the room contained an entertainment center with a big television, VCR, and cabinet full of videotapes, mainly, Jane noted, documentaries, musicals, and costume dramas.

“I could stay up here and never, ever go out!' Jane exclaimed. 'You've got everything I love.'

“We're lucky to be living now, aren't we?' Allison said. 'I can be a complete hermit, but between the satellite dish and the computer, I'm also in touch with the whole world. What more could you ask?'

“Closer medical facilities,' Edna said from the top of the stairs.

“Oh, Edna, no fretting, please. I'm fine,' Allison said. 'Jane and I are going to play on the computer.'

“Have you seen that black knitted scarf of mine?' Edna asked.

“It's right here,' Allison said, opening a drawer. 'Some of the fringe was coming loose and I fixed it. What are you up to today?'