The Garden Club by James Gerard (nonfiction book recommendations .txt) 📖

 Hal slowly headed down the freeway oblivious to the wispy fingers of red penetrating the edges of a deep blue sky.   He could not help but to think that it was finally over.  The reality of the needs of the world as prescribed by those who had brought its life back from the brink of irreversible damage had finally extracted the last sliver of hope that remained in the thoughts.  Beyond that, he accepted that while the park’s closure might bring about a cloud of hopelessness for himself, but for Ron, it definitely would.

The unimpeded drive home allowed time to see past any obstacles that lingered just after the meeting.  The Governor did not have to say it; the park’s demise was inevitable.   In his heart, however, even though the Governor had to make a decision based on what was proposed by any of the corporate heads, he could find no true validation that could lead to supporting the proposal he offered.  Hal could only surmise that he too had fallen under self-deception by hearing the common sense and logic behind the Board of Realtors’ splendid vision of how the land could be transformed.   

Thoughts about the morning loomed ahead.  To hear the Governor make an official announcement over the airways that the park’s land would be sold for another gated community would be painful.   Just thinking how the shell would be utilized to assure the optimal quality of life for the chosen few instead of preserving the life it had or for dwelling units for the populace, only added to the gloomy misery.  The only hope remaining rested on a public that might be stirred by outrage over another decision to serve the wants of the privileged rather than the needs of those that grew weary of being sustained with broken promises of a better future.

But the Governor, having been judged by the corporate leaders a faithful servant to the voters he served before the war to end all wars, was then appointed to the former position by the corporate leaders.  They deemed his former service to still be useful after the war to end all wars.  Just by spending ample time in his presence, witnessing how he craftily avoided sticky matters, Hal could already imagine the captivating speech that would pacify the public.  He certainly could successfully explain to them how by abiding by the plans of the corporate world everyone would benefit, especially the citizens of San Diego.  But Hal considered what facts would be hidden from the citizens.

Too many people grew weary of waiting for repairs to their rental units or to their purchased homes.  The guarantees that had been promised with additional fees added onto such rentals and sales, were no quarantees at all.  But like the existing estates within the gated communities, the Governor would leave the public in the dark over how no guarantees would be needed in the proposed domed community.  After all, he reasoned, the Board of Realtors was in control of all building and maintaining housing world-wide, and when it came to their needs, each unit would be constructed with such detail and precise craftsmanship that such guarantees proved to be useless spending.

To listen to a convenient lie, to hear the rhetoric behind the uplifting message of how the surrounding communities would benefit exceedingly from the project should be an affront to the very intelligence of all, yet it would probably be believed.  Even the acreage surrounding the park was land mostly bordering the towering monstrosities inhaling all the foul air, would be ingeniously cited as parcels for building affordable housing of sturdy construction.  This would thereby pacifying the public before discontent could arise.  The difference between the words and the actual commitment as Hal had witnessed so many times in the past, would be miles apart.

Pulling off the freeway gave opportunity to mull over Ron’s reactions to what had occurred at the meeting.  Hal knew his friend, and that the displayed anger stemmed from the unbreakable loyalty to the park.  It was a reluctance to give up the fight and the refusal to have to come to terms that it could cease to exist.  Of course he’s mad, thought Hal.

After devoting twenty two years of his life to the park, what else would he feel?  But he also found it perplexing that Ron extended the hostility towards him.  After all, it was more than apparent that Ron viewed him as a foe in the struggle and therefore believed there was something more to it than sheer stubbornness to cede the fight.

Hal parked the car into the lone parking space on the outskirts of the housing complex.  Feeling numb to the madness of the situation, eyes stared out the windshield observing the nightly activities.  The neighborhood children were out running about, playing, laughing, and lost in their youth.  Couples and other neighbors sat outside their doors in the cool springtime air in an attempt to escape the stale, stuffy air left unattended by the broken central heating and cooling system.  But after a while, after the realities of the night wore off some of the numbness, the thought of sleep came down heavy in the thoughts.

Arriving at the front door of his unit, Hal wasted no time entering the shabby apartment.

“It’s about time,” a voice said out of the darkness.

Hal slapped the sensor.  The light flickered for a few seconds then held steady.

“What are you doing here?”

“Just thought I’d come by and talk.”

“About what?”

“About what happened today at the park?”

Although Kenneth, body slumped into the chair, seemed calm and relaxed, Hal sensed something was amiss.  It had been a rare occasion for a visit.  The unannounced presence proved puzzling.  Hal took a step forward, “Does this have to do with what I said today?”

“You simply amaze me.”

“Why?  You told me you weren’t interested in the park.”

Kenneth sighed, “You don’t get it do you? It’s about being a brother Hal.  It’s about looking after your loved ones.  Who always let you tag along with me and my friends because you were just too weird to have friends of your own; except for Ron that is?  When you got married, who was the one who fronted you the money for the wedding ring?  Who was the one that threw you the best damned bachelor party the world has ever seen?  Who was the one that got you reservations at the finest hotel in San Francisco for your honeymoon—and paid for the whole thing?  Who was the one that gave you the down payment for your house?  Who was there for you Hal when your family left you?”  Kenneth lifted the photograph off the table and held it before Hal’s eyes.  “Who is the one that has been trying to help you get her back by offering one hell of a good paying and respectable job?  And who is the one that couldn’t back his brother?”

“For god’s sake Kenneth, great, thank you, you’re right about everything you just said, but you’re talking about twenty two years of my life.  It’s all I have.  I just couldn’t let it go.  And again, why does it make a difference since you aren’t interested in the land?”

“But a garden club?” Kenneth laughed.  “Hell Hal, if you would have just told me I would have taken the land and left it alone.”

“Then I don’t get it Kenneth.  Why come here and make a big deal out of all of this?”

“You’ve let me down Hal.  Don’t you understand you just let me down?”

“How Kenneth?  Tell me how I let you down?”

“You don’t understand do you?”

Hal stood there with mouth agape.  His mind was unable to decipher the code by which Kenneth communicated.  The only thing he could think of was that his brother had been so use to having things his way, everyone obedient to his commands, and having the entire the world literally at his feet, that he had become drunk with power.  It was as if, considered Hal, that the words spewed out the mouth with such selfish intonations that he truly believed he had been stabbed in the back.

“Whatever you think I did to hurt you then I’m sorry.  If you want I’ll call the Governor right now and tell him I’ve changed my mind, to go ahead and close the park and let you have it if it will make you feel better.”

“No,” said Kenneth.  “That land means nothing.  I don’t need it for my idea to reach fruition and affect the future in ways you can’t even imagine.”

“What?  Like the meat condos.”

Kenneth laughed and then stated, “Oh much bigger than that Hal.”

“More genetically altered products?”

“It doesn’t matter.”  Kenneth stood up.  He then stormed past Hal but stopped at the door.  “If you ever figure it out, call me.  If you don’t, don’t bother to ever call me or try to see me again.”

“What?” cried Hal.  “What’s your problem?  What did I do wrong?”

Kenneth walked out of the apartment and slammed the door.

Hal ran after him and yelled, “Oh yeah Kenneth.  Did I upset you, you the role model for all of mankind?”

An aircraft engine’s roared to life.

“What,” screamed Hal, “you lacking something?  Don’t you have everything you could ever want already?”

The jet lifted off the ground.

“There he goes, the man that’s going to change the world.”  Looking up at the sky Hal stretched up the arms and shouted, “Now I understand Mom, you asked me to keep an eye on him not to make sure he would be safe, but watch him go straight to hell!”

The jet flew straight ahead but suddenly changed its course.

“What Kenneth, you want my allegiance?  You want me to pledge allegiance to you?”

Hal flopped to the pavement as the jet streaked by just feet off the ground.

“Some ace you are Kenneth; you missed!”

The jet flew out of sight. 

“How could he be such an ass,” shouted Hal.  He jumped up and marched down the main corridor of the complex and grumbled, “He said the park land was not that important, but it was.  No matter my brother, if that’s the way you feel about it, so be it.  You won’t get what you want; none of them will get what they want!”

Angry and hateful thoughts brought on a burning desire for vengeance.  The feeling consumed Hal as he sought rest on the tattered mattress.  All the twisting and turning, all the attempts to think of anything else but his brother failed miserably.

Turning onto his side for the umpteenth time, the eyes looked at the digital display and saw it flashing six o’clock.  He slapped a button to silence the machine before its time to scream.  Looking out the lone window, he could see the light from the rising sun.  But in a matter of minutes depressing thoughts about confronting Ron and the news that was sure to come subdued all enthusiasm for the new day.

He doubted Ron would be listening to the radio since he would be out and about tending to the weeds, possibly preparing in advanced of a tour.

Finally mustering up the energy to sit up, the wrinkled pants and shirt caused by all the tossing and turning through the night was noticed.   Stepping over to the bathroom sink the image in the mirror reflected the unshaven stubble and mussed up hair.  The reflected image appeared surreal knowing he was staring at a figure that was him, yet the disheveled man staring back was as a stranger.  Thoughts about showering and shaving were briefly entertained, but the gloomy destiny awaiting put a quick end to such consideration.  He just walked out the door and was prepared to meet up with fate.

Driving towards the highway, Hal thought that even if Ron had not been listening for the Governor’s announcement, the Chairman of the Board of Realtors jumping on the opportunity for an early start would certainly announce the decision.  He could just imagine a convoy of heavy equipment and demolition crews