The Women of Keysville--Part 1

Fortunately for the women of Keysville, the new mayor of the city was single. There had never been anyone in the city government who was such a charming handsome man without a wife. Rumor was around town he was considering marriage if he could find the right woman to become his wife.

Less this become another Cinderella story of make believe and fairy tales, I guess I should begin at the beginning of the story that became news across the country. TV news, newspapers, pop magazines, and the web talked of what was happening in Keysville. It did not begin as newsworthy, of course not. It was a very simple story of a man who was the mayor of Keysville and wanted to find a wife.

His neighbor Mabel Moore, that is Mrs. Roy Moore, not Lola Moore who was married to Joseph Moore, wanted to introduce him to her daughter. Mabel mentioned the idea at supper over homemade chicken and dumplings, “Anna Lee, I’ve been hearing rumors.”

“About me, Mother”?

“No, of course not, dear. I heard that Jack Brook is single.”

“Mom, that isn’t exactly a rumor. Everyone’s known that since he ran for mayor over a year ago.”

“But, Anna Lee, what they haven’t known until now is he’s looking for a wife.” Mother and daughter bantered back and forth about Jack Brook until dessert, peach cobbler, (Mabel’s 2 cup recipe—2 cups self rising flour, two cups sugar and two cups of canned peaches, baked for about an hour). “He needs a wife to be a respectable mayor,” and to that even Aunt Lola agreed though both sisters were now giggling.

Lola had been a quiet presence until now, a little tired from her volunteer work with the Keysville Garden Club and just enjoying her meal. “Too many things can happen with a single man in that position. I’ve seen it before; rumors get started about him seeing some divorcee or him taking out of town trips with his secretary or some woman on the city council.”

Anna Lee was not amused at his comment. "Aunt Lola and Mother, can we just talk about something else while I enjoy my cobbler? I don’t care if the man is single or married as long as he puts the street lights back on the square. That is no way to save money, if you ask me.”

With that Anna Lee’s mother and aunt explained their plan they'd talked about earlier at the garden club meeting to have a raffle to buy plants for the neighborhood circle at the corner of their street. The raffle would include a dinner with the mayor.

“Lola, I know the mayor would love this idea. He is green you know, very green from what I hear. He recycles everything. Any way, as I was saying earlier today, these single men never get a homecooked meal these days. I hear he eats every meal at the diner. Can you imagine eating out every meal”? Mabel had a good listener in her sister, and this was one of their latest plans.

“Fifty dollars, Mabel, at least! Why I’ll pay at least $200 to have a chance for him to come to my house for supper. What do you think, Anna Lee?”

“Don’t you think someone should ask the mayor,” She at last had had enough and stormed out of the room with near expletives, but not without fully expressing herself. Oh yes, Mo—ther, and by all means, have him come to our house for peach cobbler. I can’t wait to meet him!”

This outburst did not discourage the two sisters but gave them an even better idea. Maybe they should open this up to the entire garden club, and women who have eligible daughters. It wouldn’t be fair for just one young woman to meet the mayor they concluded. Instead of a raffle, they could have a progressive dinner so the mayor could go to every family’s home for one course. This could go on for months until he's been to everyone’s house for supper. They were, after all, the co-chairmen of the fundraising committee.

The two women cleared the table, loading the dishwasher, wiping the table, putting leftovers in the refrigerator. For a few moments all was quiet as they mulled over the idea of the mayor coming for dinner and meeting their daughters. Both women didn’t say a word until finally Mabel said, “You know, Lola, Anna Lee would be a good wife for the mayor.”

“She or Cindy! I think Cindy would probably fit in better in politics in that her dad is always in the public eye,” added Lola. Cindy was her only daughter, a twenty year old working at the Keysville Daycare Center next to the First Baptist Church of Keysville.

“Cindy, your daughter Cindy? My word, Lola, she didn’t even go to college and the only public life she’s known is when she helps her dad collect money for the policeman’s ball.”

With this comment, the sisters were back in their pattern of competitiveness. Mabel realized she’d crossed the line again and that her sister was quite sensitive about the differences in their socioeconomic standing in the community. The men were brothers. Joe had always been an outdoorsman, an athlete; he wanted an action job. When he got out of the army, it was only natural he migrated toward police work.

It was too late for apologies as Lola was already walking towards the door in that sort of stiff gate she has when she’s annoyed with someone. “Good supper, but I need to get home. Joe will be off at 11:00 and ready for supper. Thanks for the leftovers for him. He will love your chicken and dumplings and peach cobbler." Lola was unusually tactful to her sister-in-law, but Mabel knew she had really crossed the line one too many times. Trying to clear the air, she added, “You had a great idea tonight about the progressive dinner. I’ll call all our members tonight and mention your idea.”