Читать книгу Safety Harbor - Chuck Cooper - Страница 27

“What would I ever have done without her?” Katye asked herself.

She didn’t realize she had been talking out loud.

“She’s good at what she does, isn’t she?” asked Sally.

Katye hadn’t noticed her approaching.

“She was the principal when I was in high school. She’s been here since anybody around can remember!” she said.

“Where are the kids?” asked Katye. “Nate said you had them!”

“Oh, they’ve had an offer to ride on the Joe’s Fine Dine-ing wagon,” she said. “They are really excited!”

“Who’s driving,” asked Katye. “Johnny isn’t driving, is he? You never know if he’s sober!”

“As a matter of fact, I am driving!” she said. “Johnny and Hobe are riding on the float!

“Of course! What a wonderful idea! After all, you are running Joe’s right now. Who is more appropriate than you?” She looked down at her watch. It was two o’clock exactly.

Marshall was doing a last-minute check to see if the orange traffic cones were still standing in place to keep the side streets blocked going onto Main Street. There were always a few missing after the parade. He reported back that all looked good. Carmelita called Katye on her cell and told her that it was a go.

Katye gave Mrs. Saugus a thumbs-up and the principal blew her coach’s whistle. Katye hadn’t noticed a whistle before this, but there it was. That woman came equipped for all contingencies.

“Okay, people, we’re going to begin now. Keep your chins up and look at the crowd. Wave and smile. This is a parade, people! This is for your town, our town, Safety Harbor, and for the Unsettlement too!”

It was as if she were giving the school cheer. This electrified the crowd, already full of anticipation, and brought a roar of response from all of the participants.

Stewart had quietly made his way down the street to watch the parade on his own. He had not found a place in which he could fit or be useful. He decided to look for a good place where he could watch the parade in privacy.

The old lighthouse! Yes! That was it! He would go to the lighthouse. This he did. He climbed the stairs to the first landing. He looked out on the little harbor town. From there he could see everything and everybody.

The parade had begun to wind its way out of the school parking lot and onto Main Street.