Henry Tucker sat back in his chair and stared at Bill.
"Dat bes a fuck of a lot of money, Bill."
John Dove agreed.
"A true shit-load, me son."
Bill had called Mayor Tucker and told him that he wanted a meeting with him and John Dove. The other councillor, John's wife, Joyce, was still in Corner Brook with Matty. They were returning that night, but Bill wanted to present his findings to Henry and John as quickly as possible.
"It is a lot of money, gentlemen."
Henry lay the papers on his desk.
"So whats does dis mean, Bill?"
"I think, as you can see by the figures there, that the reality of the situation is clear. No matter how badly everyone might want to save the Bay, the reality is, there is no way."
"Dere always bes a way, me son," John spoke up, "but, Ise be seein' what youse means.And fer da few peoples dat really wants to be stayin', dat bes a ridiculous amount."
"What do you mean? The few people?"
"What Johnny means dere Bill, is dat not everyones wants to be stayin' 'ere. Some of us old timers, well wese be a bit stubborn and wese be stayin' no matters what, but a lots of da youngins, well dey don't wants to be roughin' it, specially da teenagers. Dey wants a more normal life, wit all da tings dat others 'ave.
Youse know whats Ise talkin' 'bout. Tings like cable, internet and dem phones what takes pictures. At da best of times, da Bay bes like some place lost in da 1970s."
Bill sat back in his chair.
"What if everything was in place?"
John shook his head.
"Billy boy, its bes likes dis. Da world 'as changed, but 'ere in da Bay, tings bes pretty much da same. Even the young ones 'as to be drove to Deer Lake to school ev'ry day. In da winter, dat bes almost impossible, so a lots of dem stays wit friends and relatives down dere. Dey don't always loves it when dey 'as to come back 'ere."
Bill nodded.
"It must be hard on them. Has there ever been a school here in the Bay?"
"Many year ago, but da gov'ment mead us close it down 'cause we could not keep up wit da changing .... "
Henry looked at John.
"What were dat word dey used?"
"Car-rick someting," John sputtered.
"Curriculum?" Bill offered.
"Dat bes it," Henry agreed.
"Dey said dat our youngins weren't on da same level bes da rest of students dere age. So off to Deer Lake wit them."
"So how many people do you think would stay?"
"Right now youse be lucky to 'ave a dozen or so," John offered.
"But do you think the others would stay if the money was invested?"
Henry sat forward.
"Bill, me son. Does youse 'ave da money to invest?"
"I do."
"Den takes dat money and git da fuck out of da Bay."
"What?"
"Ise tinks youse 'eard me, me son."
John had to agree.
"Don't bes t'rowin' yer money away, Billy boy. Youse cud keeps yer light'ouse as a summer place ifin youse wanted to. Wese bes more den 'appy to looks after it, but don't bes takin' all dat money and wastin' it."
"Wouldn't you do it, if you could?" Bill asked John.
John let out a hearty laugh.
"Ise bes out of 'ere so fuckin' fast dat youse 'ead would be spinnin' 'round fer da next month."
"Yes boy," Henry agreed. "Ise tinks dat most of us wud do da same ting."
"But what about all the spirits that live here?"
"Dey all bes dead, me son. Ifin wes aren't 'ere, den dey will goes where all spirits goes. Dey only bes 'ere 'cause wes is. Don't let dat bes any part of your decision."
"So what you are telling me is to save my money and leave the Bay?" Bill needed to clarify.
Henry and John both nodded.
"Dat bes what wes sayin'," Henry assured him.
"Youse 'as no ties to da Bay, Bill."
"Well there is Matty," Bill reminded them.
"Well me son, Ise tinks dat ifin youse were really serious about leavin', lets say in da fall, before da snows come, Ise pretty much sure dat little Matty wud bes wit youse," Henry tried to assure Bill.
Bill smiled.
"I'm not 100% sure of that. Matty can be pretty stubborn."
"Well, me son, da ways Ise sees it is dat youse 'ave 'till da end of September to convince her. Dat gives youse tree months to do so."
John added.
"And dat bes what wes wud advise youse to spend yer time on. Enjoy da summer in da Bay and den in the fall, say goodbye and go somewhere warm until next spring and den ifin youse wanted to, youse could comes back and sees us agin."
Bill shook his head.
"This is not exactly the reaction I expected. Matty gave me the impression that no one wanted to leave."
"Ise tinks dat Matty bes da one dat don't want to leave," John told Bill.
"She's don't wants to be losin' 'er Nanny agin. She's took it pretty bad when da old lady died."
"But do you think that people would stay, if they could?"
"Billy boy, why is youse beatin' dis dead 'orse?
Ise beginnin' to tink youse don't really wants to leave."
"I like it here, John and of course there is Matty to think about and even Nanny Dove has kinda taken a liking to me."
Henry laughed.
"Dat bes a first. Dat old lady doesn't take to many."
"'specially youse," John laughed.
"Am I missing something here?" Bill wondered.
Henry shook his head.
"Inside joke, me son. Buts to git back to youse earlier question.
Ifin all da tings were in place, dat needs to bes in place, den Ise tinks dat maybe 'alf of da peoples 'ere might be convinced to stay, but as fer da rest, well dey bes young and dey needs to be where dey can offer a comfortable life fer dere family. And unless even more tings changed den youse 'as on dat paper, den Ise don't tink youse will ever convince dey."
John offered his hand to Bill.
"Youse a gud man, Billy boy. And wes 'ere at da Bay 'as come to 'sept youse 'as one of us. But, when dat first flake os snow falls, youse takes dat young Matty and youse both bes gettin' da fuck out of 'ere."
Bill shook his hand and then Henry's hand.
"Thanks guys. I think I will go get some sleep before Matty gets home. This could be a long night."
"Does yuse tinks dat maybe dey will stay another nite?" John wished.
"Been so peaceful at da 'ouse."
Bill laughed.
"I don't think so, John. Matty said they will be home before dark."
"Den Ise guess Ise best take 'vantage of da time Ise 'as left," John laughed.
Bill bid the two men goodbye and left the Mayor's office.
He slowly walked back to the lighthouse and went inside the house. After feeding Jarge he sat on the couch, lit a cigarette and sipped on a scotch.
"Still smokin' in me 'ouse Ise see."
"Its my house Nanny. Its my house."
"Whats bes troublin' youse, Willam. Youse sounds powerfully sad dere."
"Just trying to sort all this out Nanny."
"Ise saw da papers youse 'ad on da desk."
Bill turned to her.
"Snooping again?" he joked.
"Dey were dere in plain view, Willam. Youse know Ise 'ad to look."
"So what do you think, Nanny?"
"'bout what?"
"About me spending all that money."
Nanny Dove stopped knitting and rocking.
"Youse 'as dat kind of money?"
Bill nodded.
Nanny Dove laughed.
"Den what da fuck is youse doin' 'ere in da Bay? Youse shud bes in dat condo in dat Aunt Jemima place."
Bill laughed.
"Thats what I'm beginning to think."
He let out a long sigh.
"But I so like it here and there is Matty. She just refuses to leave."
Nanny Dove went back to knitting and rocking.
"Don't youse worry 'bout Matty. Dat girl loves youse and she will go where youse goes.
Wit a little convincin' of course. And maybe a little duct tape."
Bill sat back on the couch.
"I just don't know what to do."
"And what wud makes yer decision easier dere, Willam?"
"If I had some connection to this place."
He turned to Nanny Dove.
"You know what I mean?"
"Well youse 'as da light'ouse and youse 'as Matty."
"I mean a real connection. Like I really belonged here. Like this was really my home."
"Ise sees what youse means."
Bill finished his drink and lay on the couch.
"I think I will take a little nap. I didn't get much sleep last night and I feel that when Matty gets home we will be talking for a while."
Nanny Dove nodded.
"Youse do dat, Willam. Ise will jest sit 'ere and do some knittin'."
Bill was asleep in seconds.
~~~~~
"William?"
Bill opened his eyes. The house was dark, except for the light from the end table lamp.
"Who are you?"
The man puffed on his pipe.
"Just a friend, William. Why don't you get up from that couch and come take a walk with me."
Bill sat up and looked at the clock on the wall.
"Its two in the morning. Where are we going?"
"Just for a short walk."
The man turned and headed for the door.
Bill watched as he walked through the door.
"This should be interesting," Bill sighed, as he got up from the couch.