Hometown Monday - Harry, Heather and Ivy this week
We are continuing this series of posts of excerpts from the novels, novellas, and short stories of "The Homeplace Saga" family story-telling, with a new twist. We have adopted a format from the: "Blogging From A to Z Challenge." Each week we will share a published except related to a person whose name begins with that letter.
This series of posts is to provide an insight into the story lines that may not be clear from other promotional pieces about "The Homeplace Saga." These will also be coordinated with the content of the developmental Wiki, "Beyond the Books" - to expand the information available there, as well. [Links in the text, below, provide more information on that person or entity]
Today we look at name beginning with H and I. For H and I, we have (with two excerpts, below):
Harry Flanders - banker - outside trustee of the Bevins Trust - see first excerpt, below
Heather Gates - daughter of Paul and Beverly (Bevins) Gates - sophomore in high school - see second excerpt, below
Ivy Grapes - friend of Peter Bevins - in Oregon - introduced in "Christmas at the Homeplace"
The Harry Flanders excerpt from "Back to the Homeplace" is from Saturday, April 25, 1987:
Waiting in Harry Flander’s office at the Oak Springs Savings Bank took Jason back to his old office in the Salt River Towers in Arizona. The interior decor was so similar, Jason noticed: Walnut paneling… full bookcases… spacious desk and brown leather chairs. This was in contrast to the view out the window. Outside the bank office window was the greenery of a small Missouri community.
The town square was very active this Saturday morning in late April. All the comings and goings of the old downtown square shops were quite visible from the banker's office window. There is a man in coveralls going into the Coast-to-Coast store to get some yard work supplies. The young mother with three children in tow headed for the Buster Brown shoe store. A teenager coming out of the Rexall Drug Store on the corner reading a comic book.
"Sorry, I got tied up a few minutes out there, Jason. I didn't mean to keep you waiting." Harry came into the room, almost breathless.
"No problem, Harry. I'm enjoying the view. My office in Arizona had a similar window but it was on the tenth floor and looked out over the valley. There's no urban sprawl out this window.”
"Not that you can see, you're right. We are beginning to experience the problem, though. Since the college was built out west of town, more and more of our good farmland on that side of town is being taken up with development. Can you believe we have such a problem, right here in Oak Springs?"
"I guess we can be thankful our place is north and east of town. Maybe we'll be safe for a few more years." Jason took a seat by the desk as Harry settled in behind it. "I came in to arrange for our crop expenses money. It certainly was a good thing the trust provided for financing. Farming is a costly venture."
"You are right, Jason. Farming these days is all business for those who have survived… big business in most cases.
Jason nodded his head in concurrence. "Our suppliers expect a check the first of the month. If having the financing available isn't handled properly, the costs are even higher." He handed Harry a folder of papers. "I think I have all the papers you need right here. Bart was a big help to me in compiling some of figures you need."
Harry Flanders reviewed the papers in the file carefully. Jason noticed that Harry was looking for specific items as he went through each sheet of paper. He did not take much time, but he was very thorough. "Very well done, Jason. You followed the guidelines very closely. We appreciate that. It helps us keep the money circulating. That's real good for the economy."
"I understand your daughter is making a real contribution to the economy, too, Harry! How is the wedding coming by now?"
"Did you need to remind me, Jason? It is six weeks away yet. I may be broke before that time!" Harry beamed with pride, regardless of his words. "I just hope Doug doesn't back out now that we've gone this far."
"You're joking, I assume."
"Yes, although he has really been jumpy the last few days. I could understand his nervousness in a new town those first few weeks. Then he seemed to settle in comfortably. Now he seems so preoccupied. I've tried to talk to him, but he says he is fine. Hope so!" He had finished checking Jason's papers and was filling out a form. "This will authorize the transfer of funds you need. Thanks for the good information."
"That's the least I can do, Harry. I'm just thankful Bart has been so helpful. We make a pretty good team, actually." Jason got up to leave.
"Glad to hear it. Makes all our work easier."
Jason extended his hand. "Thanks, again, for your assistance."
Harry came around the desk to shake hands. They walked to the door together. "That's what I'm here for. Keep me up to date on how things are going."
The Heather Gates excerpt from "The Homeplace Revisited" is from Saturday, August 24, 1996:
Jennifer and Heather were going over the horse breeding plan that Heather had begun to develop following their discussion with Diane. Jennifer shared with Heather that her check on Sunshine was entirely positive. Heather was now tracking Sunshine’s cycle and would keep Jennifer aware of her status. Together they had checked the semen sources and were ready to move ahead when the time was right.
Diane joined them, reviewed the plans, and gave her approval to move ahead. She had one additional bit of information for Heather. “If you are to use this for an FFA project, there is one other thing we need to do, I think. You need to have a more personal investment in the project. I have talked to both Bart, and your father, Paul, and we all agree that this foal of Sunshine should become your foal to raise as your own horse. Would you like that?”
“Really? Is that possible? It would be wonderful? But, how can it be possible? I don’t have any money to buy it?”
Diane replied: “We need to work out a formal agreement of course, but that is not difficult. You have already shown a real dedication to our horse operation with your everyday work ethic. We love having you working here, and both the horses and our customers love to have you here. We already have our ‘credits’ system in place for boarded horses, like Christopher’s Shadow and others, for example. Some of the work you do will build ‘credits;’ as it grows, we’ll board the horse here and let the horse earn credits, as well, as a trail horse. As it works out you can learn how that works as part of your FFA project as well. OK?”
“Thank you, so very much. I will work very hard to earn this opportunity. You really mean it, don’t you? Wow! Thanks!”
“We really mean it, yes. Right, Jennifer?” Diane looked at her daughter, then back to Heather.
Jennifer replied, “Yes, we do! Welcome to full membership in the team here.”
"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."
Bill ;-)
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