Page 9 - Contrast1968

Below, the creek curves toward the mountain and the favor-
ite swi.mming place is 'empty. (Twelve feet deep and unmentionable
happenings inside a tractor shed near the bank.)

Washing bar glasses crested with "Reading Beer" in red
gothic script, Kelly wondered if the boy would be in again that
night. The noon report had forecast rain and high winds; he
could let him sleep in the back room again on some burlap bags.

To the north heavy evening clouds approached over mountains
which were higher and valleys that were darker and deeper, clut-
tered with the same poor farms; good land for pioneers but later
wasted on new generations. The mines were closed, carved out and
exhausted. Somewhere a dump smoldered and the fire of 1940 in the
Templeton Shaft continued to burn; the inexorable cancer ate through
the soft heart of the long mountain, fossil fuel feeding.

Architecturally the sculpting creek had done its work well;
it would take more than Christopher Wren and tons of polished green
Renaissance marble to harmonize man and this valley. Frame houses
peeled bland shingles~and bleached barns decayed silently as "Chew
Mail Pouch" faded from their sides; the American temporary way
about to be rewarded. Red squirrels and bluejays had built better
and their titles were ancient, but there would be no compensation.

Over the western hilis the sun was blending into its o.wn
haze. Frogs protested and crickets unfolded hoarse fiddles.
Johnny was approaching the crossroads. In the distance a low
thundering of splintered wood registere4 the crossing of a car on
the old iron bridge.

Kelly's smelled of roasted peanuts, the caviar of the
community, prepared and served on the premises by the proprietor;
chestnuts in the winter. Johnny came Ln on Thursdays because the
farmers were all at their grange meetings; they used the rest of
the week for drinking. Only Kelly's dog Roxy and an occasional
traveler ever intruded.

"You can stay the night if you want," Kelly offered, "it's
gonna kick up a fuss t'night the radio says."

Johnny nodded his assent. There would be no sleeping in
the sun on the hill tomorrow, naked and hungover. "Are the farmers
planning to protest the dam?"

"I don't reckon so. There's a motion t'night at grange to
stay and fight but I figgur they'll be going soon's their money
comes in. Reckon you'll be movin' on, before's cold, eh?"

"You might say that."