As the three neared the two men who were welding, Clayton yelled at them and the two men stopped. They took off their masks and respirators and wiped their faces with rags.
"Boys, dis be Bill Willams. He's bes da owner of dis plant."
"Well, not really," Bill reminded Clayton.
"At least, not yet."
The first man took off his welding gloves, wiped his hands in a rag and shook Bill's hand.
"Nice to meet youse, Mr. Williams. Ise be Clayton's son, Wycliff, but everyone just call me Wike."
Wike Rideout
"Nice to meet you," Bill smiled, shaking Wike's hand.
The second man was actually Henry's nephew, Harry Junior.
"Everyone jest calls me Jr., Mr. Williams."
Harry Tucker Jr. (Jr.)
Bill shook my head as he shook Jr's hand.
"Please just call me Bill."
Jr. looked back at the welding they were doing.
"I 'opes youse don't mind dat wes uses da plant to do our weldin'. It be really da only place in da Bay big 'nuff."
Bill shook my head.
"Not at all."
He walked toward the project they were working on.
"What is this?"
"It be a new gate fer da cemetery. Wes don't really 'ave a church 'ere, so dere not be a real lots of money fer such tings as gates and fences and such.
But me and Wike figured dat da least we could do was make a new gate."
Bill walked toward it.
"It is beautiful."
He reached my hand up.
"Don't be touching' dat," Wike yelled.
"I'm sorry."
Wike put his hand on Bill's shoulder.
"No me son. It be okay to touch, its jest dat wes been weldin' it and it bes pretty hot. Youse would be burnin' yer hand pretty bad."
Bill stepped back a few steps.
"Well thank you."
He continued to admire the work, despite the fact he could have burned his hand.
"This is really good. You can hardly see the welds. Its beautiful."
"Youse knows weldin'?"
"Not really. I was going to take a welding course once but, well, shit happened and I never got the chance. One of the guys I used to work with became a welder and he would show me his work, but this is far better than anything he ever did."
Clayton spoke up.
"Jr. and Wike works fer da fish plant in St. Anthony. Dey fixes da machinery and works on da boats. Deys can also machine pretty much anyting youse can imagine."
"So what happens once you finish? Do you paint it?" Bill wondered.
Wike put his welding gloves on a small table and drank some water.
"Well, da ting dat shud be done is to 'ave it powder coated. But da only place to do dat is in Corner Brook. But it be expensive and wes be doin' dis ting from scrap metal and such.
So when it be done, wes will put some metal paint on it. It last fer a couple years."
Bill shook his head.
"No."
"No?"
Wike looked at Bill.
"Youse means wes can't do dis 'ere anymore?"
Bill continued to shake his head.
"No. I mean yes."
Bill half laughed, as he was sure he was confusing the others.
"Bill me son, youse not be making' any sense," Jr. laughed.
"What I mean is that you are more than welcome to weld here, but I want you to take this to Corner Brook and have it properly powder coated."
"Dat cost money Bill. Me and Jr. don't mind springin' fer a few welding sticks and such, but it takes time and money to go to da city and git dis done. Wese mite 'ave da time, but wes don't 'ave da money."
"I'll pay for everything. And I want you to get the metal you need to make a fence for the cemetery as well. Maybe some of that fancy metal. You know like they use on metal handrails and such."
"Well. Ifin we 'ad a forge, wes could do our own fancywork. We gots a buddy from Rocky 'arbour whose can do dat stuff real easy," Wike explained.
Bill nodded.
"It sounds good. I would also like to hire the both of you to do a special job for me."
"What wud dat be?"
"I'd like for you to make a special gate like thing to put up on the hill behind the cemetery. Kinda like a metal headstone, with the name Williams' Hill on it."
Wike looked at Jr. and the two men nodded.
"Maybe ifin yuse drew us some kind of drawing likes what youse wants, we's could do it fer you."
Bill smiled.
"That would be just wonderful and I will pay for all the material and for your time as well."
Wike laughed.
"Get us da material and a couple dozen beer and we will do it fer youse, no problem."
"Thank you."
Bill looked around the plant.
"Can you do me one more favour?"
They both nodded.
"Can you put together a cost analysis of what it would cost to get the gate powder coated and to get the proper metal to make the railings for the fence and for my project.
And of course be sure to put in travel expenses, meals and even hotel rooms, if you feel you need to stay a day or two to get everything done."
Wike looked at Jr.
"Wese can put together a number fer dat, Bill. But why would youse wants to do dat?"
"I have an idea. Or more to the point, you two guys have given me an idea."
"Okay Bill, me son. Youse gonna be lettin' us in on dat idea of yours or not," Henry wanted to know.
Bill looked at Henry, shaking his head.
"No. Not just yet. I will be talking to Matty tonight. After I talk to her, I will talk to you."
Bill looked back at Wike and Jr.
"Thanks guys and please feel free to use the plant anytime."
Wike shook Bill's hand.
"Don't knows what we did, but youse welcomed."
"Thanks gentlemen."
Bill looked at Clayton.
"Don't give up hope yet, Clayton. There is no telling when the next miracle will happen."
He slapped Henry on the shoulder.
"I'm going to go back to my place. I have some things I need to look over. I will talk to you again soon."
Bill left and walked back to his house. Just as he walked inside, the telephone rang.
Nanny Dove appeared in her rocking chair.
"Phone be ringing'."
Bill shook his head.
"Thank you, Nanny Dove."
Jarge squawked at Bill, walking toward the desk.
"I can hear it," Bill snapped at Jarge.
"You two should have your own comedy duo. Dumb and Dumber."
Bill picked up the receiver.
"Hello."
"Hey honey."
"Matty. So how did it go? Are you on the way to the airport."
Matty laughed.
"I missed you too."
"Sorry, I am just excited for you to come home. I have some things I need to talk over with you."
Matty took a deep breath.
"Well, it will have to wait another day, hun."
"What? Why?"
"I met with the Minister's assistant, some guy named Vern Hefford. I showed him all my plans and suggestions and he said he would take them into consideration, but he could not give me an answer until he did some fact finding."
"So when do you see him again?"
"Tomorrow at noon. He wants to take me to lunch at some fancy restaurant and discuss it there."
"That sounds kinda fishy. Pardon the pun.
Don't know if I like that idea at all."
"Don't be jealous. This Hefford guy is like 60 plus years old and he smells like Ben Gay," Matty laughed. She took another deep breath.
"But I really didn't want to spend another day here."
"Well, it seems like you don't have any other choice in the matter, so why don't you make the best of it."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I am sure they have lots of good shopping out there and remember, you are one rich woman, so take the rest of the day to yourself and go spoil yourself."
"You don't mind?"
Bill laughed.
"Of course not. Just be careful thats all and give me a shout tonight before you go to bed."
"Now I know why I love you," Matty purred.
"Well just remember that amid the bright lights and all the handsome young men."
Matty laughed.
"St. John's is not exactly the bright lights and I already have my man. But I do like the idea of spoiling myself with a shopping day. Maybe I will rent a car and have at her."
"You do that."
"Thanks Bill. I love you and I will speak to you later tonight."
"I await your call. Bye love."
As Bill hung up the telephone, he heard Nanny Dove laugh.
"Not a word, old lady."
"Bright lights and big city, Willam. Dey 'ave a way of casting' a spell over people."
Bill shook his head.
"You are losing it old lady."
Jarge squawked at Bill.
"Seriously bird. You are becoming a worse old lady than Nanny Dove."
Jarge scurried back to his bed and lay down.