You gave A.S. my project?!
“You gave A.S. my project?!” Roscoe expected some reserve from Dora, but not the spewing anger and hatred. He tried to calm her down. “Now don’t go off like that, darlin’. I didn’t give yer project to ‘er. She won’t even write ya down on next April if you don’t agree to it.” Dora snapped her laptop closed. “She sure as hell better not! This is MY idea! I won’t let ‘er take credit for it!”
Roscoe sat at the kitchen table and tried to fathom where he went wrong. “I thought you’d like to get the extra publicity from this. A.S. might not be the mayor, but old Tortimer pretty much let’s ‘er act like she is. Gettin’ the mayor to make your computer recyclin’ project an official event is like a guarantee for success.” Dora stood up, but her tiny frame didn’t rise much higher than when she was sitting. What she lacked in size however was more than made up for in volume. “It’s MY project!”
Roscoe’s tall and thin frame sat opposite his wife at the table. Even sitting, he towered over her. He had two choices: he could continue arguing or he could just let Dora have her way. He froze up for a few seconds, trying to decide which option was best for his beloved’s happiness. Arguing would make her angry in the short run, but getting her to agree to become part of the Merriton Festival Circuit would make his wife’s dreams come true. He clenched his teeth and started to argue his point, but Dora cut him off. “You’re just fine with ‘er takin’ credit for the Land Cruiser Cruise?!”
The question threw him off guard. He tried to answer, “She’s not takin’ credit for it. She’s givin’ me extra publicity.” Dora laughed angrily. “Oh no she isn’t! She’s just takin’ credit for your work! You don’t NEED publicity! You got TOYOTA to sponsor you!” The last thirty years flashed before Roscoe’s eyes. He saw Dora as the mousy and quiet teen always ignored by the crowds in favor of A.S. and her demanding personality. This wasn’t about the projects and it certainly wasn’t about the Land Cruiser Cruise. This was about a past that went back to their childhood.
“Ya know, the Land Cruiser Cruise is gonna be a big pain in the neck. For one week outta the year, we’re gonna have a huge fleet ‘a pickups and off roaders here. They’re gonna fill the hotels and clog the streets. Most towns don’t want these kinda folks ’round, much less that many all in one spot. By joinin’ A.S.’s festival, I pretty much got the MAYOR’S approval for this. Old Tort ain’t gonna say no to the cruise if it’s part ‘a her festival circuit. Do you know how HARD it can be to get approval for these kinda things? A.S. just made it easy for me. She might take a little credit for it, but she’s helpin’ me, too.”
Roscoe watched Dora’s face. Did he push it too far? He wanted to say more, but he didn’t know whether she would explode at him or not. He tentatively tried to continue. “What do you want from this ElectroRegeneration Society?” Dora looked up at him again and at down at the table. Her toes barely touched the floor, nearly swinging in the seat. “I want kids who don’t have computers to get computers.” Roscoe reached for her hand. “Be honest with me. Is that all you want? Do you want to be the one to do it or is it good enough that it gets done?” Dora’s face screwed up with confusion. “What do you mean?”
Roscoe patted her hand and leaned a little closer. “Suppose A.S. did take credit for your project. Suppose it was a total success and every kid in the county had a computer and everybody thought it was ’cause of her. Would ya still be happy?” Dora squirmed at the thought. “Every child has a good computer?” Roscoe nodded and watched her mind process the idea. Her hand twisted within his and gripped him tightly. A.S. would get her way again, but so would Dora.