Bill sat down. He did trust Matty and in all honesty, if she wasted a couple million dollars, it didn't really bother him, at this point. His plans were certainly going to cost him a lot more.
He laughed slightly to himself. He never thought he would be in a position to be thinking in millions of dollars. He had trouble thinking in thousands.
Matty took a deep breath.
"You all know me. I was born here in the Bay and I have lived here all my life.
Like all Newfs, from outports like Tuckamore Bay, we are more than a little suspicious of mainlanders. And I was even more so than most of you, because I have dealt with a lot of them in the past few years, as I have tried to come up with a way to sell the Bay. And most of them, no, I take that back. All of them, to a man and woman have walked away from any deal I have come up with."
She looked at Bill.
"Except for one. Though he did try a couple times."
Matty paused, lit a cigarette and took a mouthful of beer.
"Kenny Johnstone. We went to school together. You married my best friend, Jojo.
You have lived here all your life and you are raising four kids here.
And you, Ryan Pike and your brother Carl. I know it has been hard for both of you, having to leave your families for six weeks at a time and go to Fort McMurray."
Jojo & Kenny Johnstone
All three young men, who had spoken earlier to Bill were nodding in agreement with what Matty was saying.
Lisa & Ryan Pike
Lindsay & Carl Pike
"And the same goes for the rest of you men and women that have to leave the Bay to work. Its been a long time since you were able to get up in the morning and walk to work right here in the Bay."
There was a chorus of agreements from nearly everyone in the audience.
"We all stay in Tuckamore Bay because we were born here and we love it here, but we also stay because our past is alive here.
It is something that we don't talk about, but almost every man, woman and child is affected by our past. And you all know what I am talking about."
Matty looked at Henry and smiled.
"Henry won't even walk into Bill's house because he is afraid that Nanny Dove will give him shit. Just like she has been for the last forty years."
There was laughter from the people gathered. They really did know what Matty was talking about and Bill could see no fear or confusion on their faces.
Living with spirits was as normal to them as riding the subway was to people in big cities.
"We have to save Tuckamore Bay," Matty concluded.
"We just have to."
Ryan Pike stood up again.
"Dats all be fine and dandy Matty, but wes 'ave families. Wes 'as to work and wes jest don't 'ave da time or energy, when wes comes 'ome to give to da Bay. We all loves da Bay as much as you, but we 'ave to live."
There was a chorus of agreements.
Matty nodded her agreement.
"Well let me ask you this Ryan, what if you did have the time and energy? What if you could stay here in the Bay, help save the Bay and not have to worry about money?"
Ryan laughed.
"Youse be dreamin', Matty. Its bes a beautiful dream, but dats all its bes. A dream."
Matty was shaking her head.
"No Ryan and no Carl and no Ken or Jr. or Wike or any of the rest of you. It is no dream.
And all you women out there. What would you be willing to do, if your men could stay home and work in the Bay."
Jojo Johnston stood up.
"Matty if youse could keep my man home, Ise would do anything youse asked of me. And Ise means anything. The kids miss him so much when 'e be gone. To have him home wud be a blessing."
She looked around.
"And Ise knows that all of the womens here will agree."
Many of the women in the crowd stood in agreement, as Jojo expected.
Jenny Pike stood and started laughing.
"Youse wants to keep da men 'ome and Ise been tryin' to git rid of dis one fer years."
The crowd erupted with laughter.
When it settled down and everyone sat again, Clayton Rideout stood up.
"Matty. Wes been 'ere listenin' to youse and Bill dere and youse be talkin' fer quite a while. And Ise been listenin' to da others talks as well. And youse all makes sense, in one way or da other.
Truth be known, Ise don't tink dere be one man, woman or child dat would love to be stayin' 'ere in da Bay. Dis be our 'ome. Nar all of us, savin' fer a few, was born and raised 'ere and many of us wants to have da Bay as our last restin' place. Ise knows Ise do.
But wes 'ave to face facts. Da Bay be dyin' a slow death. 'as been fer years.
Now, I'se knows dat Billy dere is a fine young man. 'e has to be or youse wouldn't be keepin' 'im 'round. But I don't see 'ow he or any amount of money can save da Bay."
"I know what you are saying Clayton, but please listen to what I am saying as well," Matty pleaded.
"Ise be listenin' Matty, but Ise don't be 'earin' anyting that makes me tink otherwise. Ise 'as to be realistic 'bout all of dis."
Matty turned to Bill. "Last chance to back out of this."
Bill shook his head. He had no idea what direction that Matty was going in, but he had made a commitment to the Bay and he could not back down now. It had been made evident to him by Silas Williams that the money he had won was not meant for him, but meant for Tuckamore Bay."
"I'm with you, my love. Do what you have to do."
Matty looked back at Clayton.
"What if I could guarantee that no one's income will be disrupted for the next three years and that no one will struggle again in the Bay?
What if I could guarantee work for everyone and that the men and women will not have to leave the Bay to work?"
"Thats some pretty big guarantees, Matty. Ise don't knows 'ow youse can say dat."
Jojo Johnstone stood up again.
"Matty, me and youse have been best friends all our lives."
"That we have Jojo."
"Is what youse is sayin' da truth? Can youse guarantee dat fer the next three year, Kenny will have work 'ere in da Bay."
"What I will guarantee is three years full salary for every working age man and woman in the Bay, who is working now.
If we save the Bay and everything works out the way Bill has planned, then after three years, you will be self sufficient anyway and there will be work for all here in the Bay.
And if, by chance, we don't save the Bay, you will still be paid a full wage for the next year and a half, regardless of whether you are working or not. It will be a guaranteed income to help you relocate and hold you over until you are working again."
Jr. Tucker stood up.
"Dat bes big talk Matty, but Ise brings 'ome over 50 t'ousand dollar a year and some of da others, deys be making' even more den dat."
Jr. looked around.
"Dere bes at least eighty people in da Bay that can work, or would be able to work, ifin dey had da chance. Now Ise not a math genius, but dat bes a lots of money.
Youse be talkin' 'bout nar on eight million dollars a year."
Joyce Dove stood up.
"Jr., me son. Ise knows dat many of youse 'ere in da Bay, tinks Ise a contrary old lady and dat Ise not da brightest bulb on da tree, but Ise 'as to corrects youse a little 'ere.
But first I 'as something to say 'bout dis mainlander 'ere.
And we all knows 'ow I feels 'bout mainlanders."
Joyce glared at Bill, who started to slump down in his seat.
"Fuck," Bill whispered, as he thought about a condo in Jamaica, which was looking better by the minute.