The Garden Club by James Gerard (bill gates best books .TXT) 📕

“Good morning,” offered Hal as the Governor’s personal secretary stepped up.

“Give him a moment.  He’s still in private discussions with the Chairman of the Board of Realtors and Air Quality Commissioner.”

The mere mention of the two corporate giants provoked curiosity.   He wondered if the Governor was in process of making an impromptu decision of the park’s fate, or were both the men there for a preemptive strike in the battle fought with clever words and cunning details to sway the eventual decision their way.

In either case, Hal figured that the Chairman of the Board of Realtors had come prepared with an arsenal of verbal weapons that would blow the Air Quality Commissioner out of the running or any other corporate entity also interested in the park’s land.  The domed space was seen as a prized piece of real estate that could offer amenities like no other.

Waiting for the secretary’s cue, Hal decided to step out onto another balcony of the bayside hotel’s suite and marveled at the familiar scene.  In the distance were the massive desalinization plants hugging the shore.  Gigantic oilers chugged along southward towards the refineries and power plants along the Baha California coast.  The morning sun reflected off a slick of crude oil that had leaked out of one of the many drilling platforms dotting the ocean.  Many boats had already been dispatched and crisscrossed the slick dumping oil eating bacteria to clear the toxic mess to protect the fish and algae farms.

He could not help but to consider the sheer scale of such an undertaking that had risen from the devastating effects of the war.  But the thought of how quickly the visions came to fruition, of just how quickly the bay’s recreational playground and safe harbor for a once mighty naval fleet had been transformed for corporate use, was more astounding.      

“He’s ready for you,” the secretary yelled.

Hal had taken just one step onto the other balcony and “let’s hear it” was uttered by the Governor.

Based on the Governor’s tone, Hal stood unresponsive and searched out just the right words that would calm him.  He reasoned the agitation must have simmered inside since the previous night.  Quckly, Hal had to come up with a valid reason since the Governor had heard all other explanations many times before.

Finally, he just stared him in the eyes and said, “He just took the kids down to the river’s edge is all.  It wasn’t his fault if a caiman suddenly splashed and scared them—you already know they never were in danger Governor.”

“That’s not what the teacher reported.”

“In all due respect to the teacher, whatever she said is a flat out lie.”

“Come on Governor,” the Chairman of the Board of Realtors spoke up, “he’s obviously covering himself.  The park has always been a dangerous place.  Before someone gets hurt close the pathetic thing down already.”

“Dangerous?” Hal chuckled.  “That is just propaganda instigated by you.”

The Chairman briefly stared Hal down then responded, “If it weren’t for me there never would have been tours for the school kids.  And there never would have been any revenue increases in the first place.”  The attention shifted to the Governor.  “To subject one more innocent child to a savage attack by any of the useless creatures in there is downright an affront to everything good and moral and an absolute hideous act perpetrated for his own sick pleasure.”

“Oh please,” yelled Hal.  “It’s all a staged act for your sick pleasure you….”

“That’s enough gentlemen,” shouted the Governor.  He looked to Hal.  “I’m telling you for the last time, if your friend there persists in thumbing his nose at me or anyone else then not only will he and you be out of a job, I will shut down the park and transfer the land over to one of these characters immediately.”

“All he’s trying to do is make it more interesting,” said Hal.

Hal waited for the Governor to counter the logic.  After all, he thought, Ron had peaceful motives.   In truth, however, he suspected that his friend had conceived a plan so cleverly carried out it hid the true intention of his heart.

Since Hal had known Ron, not once had he witnessed anything from him that would put anyone in harm’s way. Yes, he did lead them to parts of the park where the casual observer would certainly conclude there was more than just a slight chance of encountering serious danger, but no one was ever in danger.  His motives, still unclear, had no hostile intent behind them Hal believed.

The Governor broke the reflective silence and responded, “I don’t care about that.  Make him understand.”

“But it’s vital….”

“Vital!” the Chairman shouted.  “If it were not for the promise of additional funding we provided they would’ve dropped the field trips years ago.”

“Nonsense,” Hal countered.  He pulled the report out of the tote and handed it to the Governor.  “Look at the total for the walk-up receipts.  It’s growing.”

“Yes it is,” the Governor noted. 

“Oh please!  Can’t you see what they’re up to?  Whatever little clever accounting tricks they come up with those amounts means squat.  It’s time to stop this lunacy Governor.  Close the park.”

The Air Quality Commissioner chimed in.  “Not so fast Governor.  While I agree the park should be closed down immediately, I don’t like the idea the Chairman is basically on his hands and knees begging you to do so.  If he thinks the land automatically goes to him, then he’s in for quite a battle.  That land as it sits is strategically positioned to add onto the air processors already in place and would be wasted for any other purpose.” 

“And what about the Meat Council?” countered the Governor.  “They’re asking for the land as well.”

“I don’t give a damn about them,” responded the Chairman.  “Animal condos?  Just another one of their crazy ideas.  Just like there idiotic plans to genetically alter the animals further to produce more meat or dissolve the bones into edible food.  They have to be kidding!”

The Commissioner laughed.  “Or produce them with no legs, no head, and no nothing.  The idea of just growing the meat in large tubes.”

“And their outrageous plan of ultimately producing some idiotic idea of a time bubble to produce instant adult animals,” laughed the Chairman.  “What the hell does the Meat Council need with a research and development department—just pen ‘em, feed ‘em, and whack ‘em is all that is needed.”

“Have you forgotten the pledges of your own corporate leaders of the past?” asked the Governor.  “Like it or not, since they produce meats other than the dogs and cats and rats and the like you want everyone to eat, they’re a major player in all this.”

“Please Governor,” pleaded Hal, “you have to understand that the park has evolved into a breathing and productive ecosystem unto itself.  It's like...well it's like one of their own private gardens they can’t do without.  Yes, the land is valuable, but its value isn’t a domed community just for them.  And as far as space for an air processor, it’s already one.  Besides, the Miramar processor has done the job just fine as it is.”

“Rubbish,” the Commissioner responded.

“He has a valid point,” the Governor said.  “However, in regards to whoever is crying out for the land, trust me gentlemen, a decision will be made soon.”

“And three years coming it has been,” uttered the Commissioner.  “We’ve lost precious time.”

Hal pulled the bananas from the tote.  “I found them this morning.  One of the maintenance guys was trying to steal them.”

“You know it is illegal to be in possession of those,” said the Governor, but he seemed to be cut off in thought as any further statements were not voiced.  “Call the park and tell the head of maintenance I’d like to see him,” he yelled out to the secretary.

“Yes sir.”

“I brought them with me to show you that these were naturally grown.  No chemicals, pesticides, or genetic modifications were used.”  He pulled one off and handed it to the Governor.  He then pulled off another and handed it to the Commissioner.

“Get it away from me,” the chairman said rejecting the fruit.  He turned to the Governor.  “He wants to turn the park into a damn plantation.”

“Not at all,” said Hal.  “I just offer it as proof of the park’s vitality.”

“Mmm,” exclaimed the Governor.  “Delicious.  Have one Hal.”

“Just come out to the park Governor.  It’s been awhile since you last visited.  See for yourself what a vital place it is.”

Hal witnessed the eyebrows raise as an indication of deep contemplation, instant calculations, and thoughts producing pleasing visions.

The Governor responded, “That’s not a bad idea.  Not bad at all.  In fact, how about we all hold a meeting at the park next Monday?”  Once again a shout out to the secretary rang, “Cancel my meeting with the Grain Council for next Monday.”

“Yes sir.”

“What the hell,” the Governor said, “cancel all my meetings for next Monday.”

“Yes sir.”

“I’ll be there Monday at nine in the morning gentlemen.   You are invited as well Hal.  I’ll listen to all of your proposals and render a final decision then.”

“Fine with me,” said the Chairman.

“I as well,” responded the Commissioner.

Hal could not help but notice the outright disgust in whiny tones, rolling eyes, and disgusting contortions of their faces as the Governor adjourned the meeting.  It appeared as if either man, any of the other corporate leaders for that matter who desired the park’s space, were one bit interested in having to step onto a small swatch of land that represented a past which was never of any use to them.  But beyond their agreeing to such a meeting, was the fact that they had no choice to abide by his directions.

The control and ownership of the park had been handed to him.  In such, at the Governor’s discretion, he rightfully wielded the power to do what he willed in the matter.  It was up to him to render such a decision independent of any corporate leader’s coercion.  Hal realized if any of them could figure out a way to rescind the Governor’s authority, to take back what was granted under emotional, therefore, irrational thought, they would in a heartbeat.  But in the meantime, as much as they seemed to be fed up with the reluctance of the Governor to make a decision right there and then, they had no choice to abide by his wishes.

Once inside the privacy of the car, stuck in traffic as usual, the urge to pass on the news to Ron brought out a nervous excitement in fidgety hands and a tapping foot.

“Did you sell me out?” asked Ron before Hal could even utter a word.

“No, I didn’t sell you out.  But look, next Monday the Governor is coming to the park.”

“What the hell did you tell him to decide that?”

“Look….”

“Is that why your brother called looking for you?  Is the Meat Council getting the land?  Did you hand over the park to your brother?”

“I don’t want to argue with you Ron.  I’ll see you Monday.”

As Hal continued the slow and tedious trek home, he wondered how Kenneth would take the news.  It was obvious the land would go to the Board of Realtors and that would cause friction between the two.  Further, his brother did not like the park not because it was withheld from the Meat Council all these years, but rather it smelled of rotting vegetation that prompted nausea each and every time he had visited in the past.  Now, as President of the Meat Council, Kenneth would have to find some means chemically to eliminate the offensive odors that sickened the stomach and attend the meeting.   He had not doubt his brother would be there.  And while he had often said the Meat Council had no interest in the land, Hal could never seriously entertain that statement.   

Hal was torn.  On one hand the thought of the park being razed tortured the mind.  It was too much a part of his and Ron’s life to see that occur.  On the other hand, the fact that the park’s space could be transformed into whatever