Chapter 5 #3
THE NEXT EVENING, Bernadine entered the Dog for the monthly town meeting to the sounds of Frankie B.
and Maze singing “Golden Time of Day.” Many of the residents were already there, helping themselves to the buffet and hanging out with one another to catch up on the latest news, rumors, and gossip.
Although she still sat at the head table, she no longer helped run the meetings.
That chore now belonged to Mayor Sheila.
Bernadine contributed to the agenda when necessary but realized she was okay having another hand turning the world, because Sheila did it so well.
Mal wisely pointed out to Bernadine that learning to loosen her hold on the reins was good for her sanity and blood pressure, and she agreed.
After all the attendees had their plates and seats, Sheila opened the meeting with a bang from her gavel. The diner quieted. “We usually open the meeting with prayer, but Reverend Paula is busy with her new husband.”
People stared confused for a moment, and then Bing called out, “I knew he was going to marry her. Good for them!”
Cheers broke out. Smiling, Sheila added, “Bernadine sent them our congratulations. We’ll celebrate when they return.”
She then caught them up on the visit from Dark Horse. “It went well. I think they’ll be a good fit for us. They have another town to visit. We should know soon if they chose Henry Adams or not. Keep your fingers crossed.”
Bernadine saw people nodding in agreement. Her fingers were crossed as well.
Sheila looked out at the crowd. “Jack. You wanted to speak?”
He stood. “I do. I’ve an announcement to make.”
Bernadine prayed he wasn’t resigning.
“Go ahead,” Sheila replied.
“I read an article recently that gave me a lot to think about, and I came to a decision. I’ve already talked this over with Marie and Nori, and we’ve decided to no longer assign homework.”
A buzz filled the place.
This was Bernadine’s first time hearing of this, and from the confused looks on everyone’s faces, particularly the parents of the students, they’d had no idea this was coming either. Amari and the other kids were staring wide-eyed, as if he’d just proven Santa Claus was real.
“Let me explain why. Our nation’s schoolkids are the only demographic outside of first responders and medical professionals, and some teachers, who don’t get to go home and relax after working all day. Why is that?”
He paused to see if anyone had an answer. No one did.
“School is their job, and it requires them to be on their grind five, six, sometimes seven hours a day. Then they go home, get dinner, and have to go back to work to handle homework instead of resting, recharging, and catching their breath like everyone else working a nine to five. They’re kids.
Their brains are still forming, and they need to disengage, but they can’t because of how schools are structured.
I want to wreck it like Ralph and let our kids breathe. ”
Bernadine saw smiles in response to the use of the movie title.
“We have a very nontraditional curriculum at the Academy. It’s rigorous and can be stressful.
I don’t want to add more by giving our students more to do when they get home.
Navigating life as a young person is stressful enough.
Academically, our kids can hold their own against any other kids nationwide, and this new policy won’t change that.
If our students believe they need to brush up on facts and figures at home for, say, a test or an essay, of course they’re encouraged to do so.
They’re smart, they know when they need to do more.
And honestly, if I can’t teach them all they need to know over the course of a term without giving homework, then I need to find a new job. ”
He took his seat, and the room erupted with applause.
“Preach, teach!” Bobby Douglas yelled.
Bernadine saw the kids giving each other high fives.
Marie stood in the back with a smile on her face.
Jack was an extraordinary teacher, and they all trusted him to know what was best for his students.
He’d also given everyone a radical new way of viewing homework.
She knew he might get pushback from some parents, but they could always look for another school if they were that unhappy with this new unconventional approach.
Sheila stood. “Thanks, Jack.”
“You’re welcome. Anyone with questions or concerns can catch me after the meeting.”
Sheila moved on to her next topic. “Okay. We’ve been looking for ways to bring more people to our little corner of heaven, so I want to run this by everyone here.
August First is a traditional holiday for us, and a few years ago, Amari and Preston threw an awesome parade.
I’d like to resurrect it and make it an annual affair if possible. ”
Bernadine saw interest.
“All the components Amari and Preston had, like the pet races, the choir competition, and the rest, are on the potential activities list, but I’ve also been talking to traveling carnival companies and food truck vendors about participating.”
A buzz of excitement flashed through the assemblage.
Bernadine loved that Sheila stayed busy on Henry Adams’s behalf.
“If you have a fun activity in mind, or an idea we might consider adding, please let me know. Tamar, is it okay if we put up an idea sheet at the rec?”
“Of course.”
“Rocky, how about we have one here too?”
“Not a problem.”
“Great. Thanks. We’ll also need lots of volunteers to pull this off, so if you want to help, sign one of the sheets and write volunteer beside your name.”
She paused for a moment before asking, “Does anyone have anything else they want to bring up or discuss this evening?”
The question was met with silence.
Her gavel sounded. “Then this town meeting is officially closed. Thanks, everyone.”
Bernadine thought the meeting had gone well, and from the myriad conversations and interactions, it seemed she was not alone.
The kids were in the back talking excitedly, she assumed about Jack’s no-homework edict.
A few of the Franklin parents with children at the Academy were talking with Jack.
Sheila, who’d left the head table, was surrounded near the windows by a small group of people.
They were too far away for Bernadine to hear the discussion, but she knew their mayor was capable of handling whatever it was.
Lily, the meeting’s acting secretary, was putting her laptop away and said to Bernadine, “I like the idea of the no homework. Jack made it make perfect sense. We’re so blessed to have him here.
And I agree with Sheila on the parade,” she added.
“We had big fun the last time. Hopefully we won’t have a repeat of the church choir fight, though. ”
Bernadine chuckled at that memory. “Hopefully not.”
Zoey, Maria, and Jasmine approached the table, and Bernadine asked, “What can I do for the Supremes?”
Zoey smiled in response to their nickname. “We want to volunteer for the parade.”
Maria added, “And be in charge of the kid stuff.”
“And maybe the pets part too,” said Jasmine. She owned two cats, T’Challa and Simba.
Bernadine looked at Lily. “I don’t see why not. Do you, Lil?”
“No. No one else has asked yet, and they asked first.”
Bernadine agreed and turned back to the Supremes. “When Mayor Payne sets up the first organizational meeting, we’ll let you know when and where.”
“Thanks, Ms. Bernadine.” Pleased and chattering excitedly, the Supremes walked away.
Bernadine watched them go. “Love their initiative.”
“We’re raising them right.”
“Yes, we are.”
Now that the meeting was over, some people began saying their goodbyes and heading for the exit, while others, the kids included, helped with the cleanup.
Mal restarted the jukebox, and the sweet, opening strains of Regina Belle’s “Baby Come to Me” filled the air.
Mal looked her way; she smiled and left her seat.
He met her in the middle of the cleared floor, and when he opened his arms, she stepped into the embrace without hesitation.
She loved dancing with him, savored the closeness with which he held her and the feel of his lean strength against her soft curves.
This was one of their favorite songs. Apparently, they weren’t alone.
They were soon joined on the floor by Trent and Lily, Reg and Roni, Sheila and Barrett, Nori and Gary, Jack and Rocky, and Gen and TC.
Bernadine saw love in the eyes of each couple as they moved to the iconic lyrics and the slow, hypnotic beat.
“See what you started,” she said to her husband.
“Bunch of copycats.”
She chuckled. With her cheek resting against his shoulder and his arm positioned tenderly on the small of her back, she let Ms. Belle’s voice take her away from everything except him, and she was grateful to have him and his love in her life.
When the song faded away, he placed his lips against her forehead. “How about we break the rules tonight?”
She liked the sound of that. “The last time, we used my place. Yours this time?”
His smile told her all she needed to know.
“I have some things to handle for Rocky before we can close for the night. Shouldn’t be too long.”
“For you, I always have time. I’ll be here.”
“Thanks, doll.”
He headed to the kitchen, and she took a seat to await his return.
Upstairs at his place, they sat outside on his balcony watching the moonrise. The night was clear, and the stars sparkled against the darkness like tiny diamonds.
“Beautiful night,” he said to her.
“It is, but kind of chilly.”
“Then how about we go inside and play How to Warm Up Bernadine.”
She snorted a laugh. “Have we played that before?”
“Not sure, but you’ll enjoy yourself, I promise.”
Later, after the game was over and she snuggled beside him in bed, she had to admit he’d been right. She’d enjoyed herself very much. Grateful once again for his presence and his love in her life, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.