“Good afternoon,” Royce replied tipping his hat to mother and daughter respectfully.
Mrs. Hock was in her small Millinery Shop window arranging a display of winter hats when Royce started to pass. He stopped to watch. Never ceasing to be amazed by what women wore on their heads. A man wore the same hat day in and day out. Hating the thought it might someday need to be replaced. By the display in the window apparently you could not say the same thing about women.
Royce never thought much on women. The few he was on speaking terms with remained a mystery. His duties kept him away from genteel life where he might have cultivated acquaintances. Now, he wondered if it was too late and discovered the thought disturbed him. Of course, it was Faith Gaines’ fault he was feeling melancholy about the prospects of never having a wife and family. Something that until lately had never entered his mind.
At the end of the block Royce stepped off the boardwalk and crossed the road running east and west through town. Mud oozed around the soles of his boots. The road was awash in a sea of mud from yesterday’s rain. He grinned as he stepped upon the boardwalk in front of the Newspaper office remembering Faith’s words about him being out walking in the rain. Would he forever remember their conversations. The thought was disturbing.
Mclean’s Office was dark. The printing press was silent. The blackboard out front did not contain any new headlines. Royce stopped to pull out his pocket watch. He flipped open the case then held the timepiece up to one ear. He was constantly forgetting to wind the thing. Often wondering why he bothered to carry a watch in the first place since it seldom had the right time. It was certainly not ten o’clock. He pulled out the stem and stood turning the metal dial until his watch started ticking. He would have to ask someone for the correct time.
Roger Cobb was behind his workbench when Royce opened the front door to the Gunsmith Shop. “Be with you in a minute,” he called without looking up.
“No hurry,” Royce replied.
“Mr. Hargadon,” Cobb greeted. “What brings you here?” Royce heard the unsettled tone in Cobb’s voice and wondered at the reason.
“I heard you are one of the School Board Members,” Royce replied.
Cobb put away the pistol he was working on. Wiping his hands on an oily rag before standing. “What do you want to know,” he asked.
“You might think my question is strange,” Royce said, “Considering I am new in town.”
Cobb picked up his cane and limped to the front of his shop. “I assume it has something to do with school since you mentioned my being a School Board Member,” Cobb replied. His frown darkened his fair complexion. His blue eyes looked strained.
Royce raked his fingers through his brown hair before settling his hat back on his head. “It is really about Miss Ferguson,” he said slowly. Hoping his reluctance to talk on the subject would cause Cobb to open up. He could almost hear the man’s mind grinding away. “She is the most disagreeable person I have ever met. Her teaching leaves much to be desired. I was wondering why she has been retained under these circumstances.”
Roger Cobb studied Royce for a long moment before making up his mind. “I petitioned against retaining Miss Ferguson when her contract came up for renewal. I am not happy about some of the reports my daughters are bringing home. Mr. Pillsdale and Mr. Hardin overruled my concerns.”
“What did Doctor Thomas and Reverend Gaines have to say,” Royce asked.
“Doctor Thomas agrees with me. I think he has heard pretty much the same reports I have been getting,” Cobb replied. “Reverend Gaines had no opinion one way or the other.” There was a touch of bitterness in Cobb’s voice at this admission. The man had hoped Reverend Gaines would have stood with him and Doctor Thomas on the necessity of removing Miss Ferguson from her position.
“I understand Reverend Gaines can be vague at times,” Royce retorted hoping to keep Cobb talking. He wanted specific reasons. Something that would reinforce his distrust in the woman.
“You teach her former students. What do you think,” Cobb asked. He was curious about Royce speaking out so bluntly about Miss Ferguson’s teaching methods.
Royce raked his fingers through his hair and decided to be honest. “I find it puzzling that my students have no assigned grades. Their level of education is all over the map,” Royce said shaking his head. “In one subject they excel while in another they are far below standard. They can do mathematics but can not read. They do not know England from Greece or Canada. They do not know the Declaration of Independence from the British Magna Carta. They could not tell me who James Madison is. I remember one student saying he was a famous outlaw not a former President of the United States. You see what I mean. It is all very puzzling and I am wondering why Miss Ferguson has been retained all these years.”
“Most families are only concerned with their children learning to read and write. More than half of the town’s children go to school for a couple of years before dropping out.” Cobb remained quiet for so long Royce thought the man was not going say anything more. “I have two daughters in Miss Ferguson’s class. I can’t say much for fear she will find out I have spoken. Since I made my objections known both my daughters are having a difficult time in school.
