Matty and Bill stood outside the Pub, having a cigarette and watching Jarge fly around with the other seagulls.
"Fucking faker," Matty would mutter whenever Jarge would land on the railing of the metal fence that led up to the Pub.
Jarge
Jarge would laugh and fly off again.
Bill and Matty knew that inside the Pub, the folding wall between the Pub and the community center was pulled back to ensure that there was enough room for all the villagers.
Bill lit another cigarette.
"You okay?"
Bill took Matty's hand in his.
"I love you."
She squeezed it.
"Right back at youse big guy."
Bill turned to her, smiling.
"Ise jest loves yer romance, me dear."
Matty shook her head.
"That is really bad."
"I thought it was pretty good."
Jarge landed on the rail, again and started laughing at Bill.
"No one asked you, shit-head."
Jarge laughed and flew off again.
Tanya joined the two outside.
"I think they are jest about ready for youse. I hope youse is ready for this."
Bill shook his head.
"Not at all, but fuck it."
He dropped the cigarette and snuffed it out with his heel
"Let's get this thing done."
The Pub /community center was full when Matty and Bill walked in and the din was so loud the two could barely hear each other.
Matty, Tanya and Bill walked behind the bar. The noise in the bar got louder.
"Fuck this," Matty barked as she jumped up on the bar.
"Quiet down."
It just got louder.
Matty jumped down and reached under the bar. She jumped back up on the bar, an air horn in her hand.
The air horn ripped through the noisy Pub, causing many to cover their ears.
"Fuck Matty. Youse tryin' to deafen us."
"No. I'm just trying to get you all to shut the fuck up."
Matty passed the air horn to Tanya.
"Now that I have your attention, we can get this thing going."
"Whats bes dis all about, Matty? Why youse be draggin' us all 'ere on our last day off. Dere bes many of us got to be gettin' ready fer work tomorrow."
There was chorus of agreement and the noise in the Pub started again.
Henry jumped up from his chair, in front of the bar and held up his hands.
"Shut up, alls of youse. Ise be as interested as youse alls bes to 'ear what Matty and Bill 'as to be sayin' but ifin youse all starts blabberin' and bitchin' den wes could bes 'ere all day.
So, whys not all of youse jest sit dere nice and quiet and listens to what da two of dem 'as to says."
He stood there looking at all those gathered for a moment or two and then turned back to Matty.
"Youse 'as da floor, Matty, me dear."
Matty smiled and turned to Bill.
"Your turn my love."
Bill got up on the bar as Matty got down.
He took a deep breath.
"I am aware of the thoughts of many of you here in the Bay, especially those who have young families. There is a lot of uncertainty as to what is happening here in the Bay and I know many of you have been making plans that do not involve life here in the Bay.
And in all honesty, I understand your concerns. If I were in your shoes, I would probably be doing the same thing."
"But youse not in our shoes," Wike Rideout snapped back.
"Youse does not have to worry about money or where you are going to live. Youse can fuck off out of 'ere at any time and go where youse wants.
All wes seen from youse so far is a lot of talk and don't tink wes don't knows about your wantin' to leave here and fuck off to Jamaica."
Matty stood on a chair behind the bar.
"Wycliff Rideout? What is with that tone of voice."
Clayton Rideout stood up and glared at his son.
"Where did yuse git dem manners, me son? Certainly not from me or youse mudder. Now youse sit down dere and youse let dat young man speak his piece. He 'as already done more fer da Bay den anyone and I am sure 'e bes a man of 'is word."
"But all wes 'as 'eard is jest talk."
"Wycliff Rideout. Ifin Ise 'ears one more word from your, it won't bes yer father youse 'as to deal with. Its bes me," Louise Rideout barked at her son.
"Don't youse be tryin' to impress anyone with youse big talk. Youse sit dere and listen."
Louise looked at Bill.
"You can carry on, me son. Say your piece."
Louise Rideout
Clayton turned to Bill.
"Youse puts me in da mind of a man whose word bes good. Is youse a man of youse word?"
"Please. Please sit down," Bill asked of everyone.
"I have every intention of honouring my commitment to the Bay, but recent events have forced me to reevaluate my position within the Bay itself."
"Nows me son, youse not be makin' any sense," Clayton continued.
Joyce Dove stood this time.
"Maybe ifin yuse all jest shuts da fuck up and lets Bill say 'is piece, 'e mights be able to 'xplain 'imslf.
Nows Ise don't wants to be 'earin' another word from none of youse, lessen youse be answerin' to me."
Joyce glared for a moment and then sat, nodding her head to Bill.
"Look," Bill started again.
"I know I have not been here in the Bay for very long, but I love the Bay as much as any of you do. Why would I spend so much time, effort and money to help this place survive?
I could have just said the fuck with it and walked away. Took my losses and bought myself a condo in Jamaica. And no one could blame me.
Even Matty told me that she would come with me. She sees the toll this is taking on me."
Bill turned and blew Matty a kiss.
"I made a commitment to the people of Tuckamore Bay. And that commitment is one that I will keep, no matter what happens here today. I will see that every family in the Bay will have no interruption in their pays, until they get back on their feet again."
"Youse sounds like youse walking' away, me son," Harry commented.
"Well Harry, its like this.
I have already invested about three million dollars in Tuckamore Bay, just to get my lighthouse. For many of you, well for all of you, that is more money than you will see in two lifetimes and I know what you are thinking. I didn't earn this money. I won it.
I spent $5 and won $70 million.
But I ask each of you, right now. What if it had been you?
What if you, Clayton or you John or you Lindsay? What of either of you or any of the rest of you, had won that money?
What would you have done?"
"Ise 'ave taken mine and left," Clayton answered.
"Moved somewhere and retired."
"Ise 'ave too, ifin Ise be honest," Henry agreed.
He looked around.
"An Ise tinks most of us 'ere would 'ave. 'specially da youngins."
There was a chorus of agreements from nearly everyone.
Henry stood up and looked at Bill.
"Ise tinks wes all understands what youse be sayin' Bill. Ise tinks Ise speaks fer all of us when Ise says dat wes all t'anks youse fer what youse 'as already done.
It bes more den wes can expect anyones to do. And wes all knows dat youse is one of us, dat youse family came from 'ere in da Bay.
But wese can also sees dat dere bes a lot more to do and dat is gonna cost a lot of money and it don't matter 'ow much money youse 'as. Youse don't needs to be spendin' it all here. Likes wes told youse before, Billy Boy, cut yer losses and get out of 'ere."
Henry looked around.
"No matter what da future 'olds, me son, Ise tinks Ise speaks fer all of us, when Ise says, thank youse for what youse 'as already done and thank youse fer even considerin' 'elpin' us save da Bay.
Youse done enuf, me son."
Everyone stood and started clapping.
Bill felt Matty squeeze his hand.