Postcards

There is a TV in the East Quad Lounge which is rarely watched. Today Roderick and a number of other students gather to see a live press conference broadcast on Washington County Community Cable. Robert "Bobby" Butts, nephew of the distinguished Congressman and mayor of Stapleton, will address the public on the urgent matter of emergency response to Hurricane Sandy.

The TV camera shows a podium set up in the parking lot of the E. Bigelow Butts Municipal Services Center, which was known as 'City Hall' until 1994, when the distinguished Congressman earmarked funds for wheelchair ramps and other improvements. While there are presently no residents of Stapleton who use wheelchairs, the ramps are quite popular with local skateboard punks, who own the premises after dark.

Behind the podium is an aging sign that reads:

This project funded by the American Recovery Act
Barack Obama, President

The sign refers to a project funded in 2009 to add nasturtiums to the flower beds around the flagpole in front of the Municipal Services Center. Work has not started pending completion of an Environmental Impact Assessment and an Economic Development Plan. The consulting firm of Butts and Co. are engaged to complete these essential planning documents, and expect to complete work in 2016.

The press, consisting of one reporter from the Stapleton Gazette and a cameraman from Washington County Community Cable, gather in the parking lot. Mayor Butts steps to the podium, accompanied by the Directors of Emergency Services, Law Enforcement, Fire Protection, Utilities and Intergovernmental Relations, plus two sign language interpreters, one for American Sign Language and one for Signing Exact English. Simultaneous translation of the broadcast will be provided in fifty-seven languages and dialects, although so far as anyone knows everyone in Washington County speaks English.

Mayor Butts clears his throat

" Ahem -- heh, heh, is this thing working?" (Sound of feedback). "OK,OK. Ahem. So I'm here today to talk about emergency response to the recent storm. As you know, city and county workers are working round the clock to restore services..."

The mayor pauses and listens to a whispered message from the Director of Emergency Services.

"Correction. City and county workers are working from nine to four with lunch break and two coffee breaks to restore city services. As of this moment, all city services are restored, since none were interrupted, so it's pretty much business as usual. However, there are reports that gusty winds blew some apples off the trees in West Puddleton, and the E. Bigelow Butts County Emergency Response Center is still flooded."

The E. Bigelow Butts County Emergency Response Center is in the basement of the building formerly known as the County Courthouse, and now used as a Visitor and Tourist Information Center.

"We have applied to FEMA for emergency grants to cover crop losses in West Puddleton and also to pump out the Emergency Response Center and replace all of the equipment."

Mayor Butts takes a question. The Stapleton Gazette wants to know what good is an Emergency Response Center if it's the only place that floods.

Roderick doesn't stick around to hear the answer. He has to run and coach Albert before Molly introduces him to Pamela.

Meanwhile, in Smileyville, Mr. Smiley -- who is suddenly aware that Roderick is wondering how he is doing -- sits down and writes a postcard.

Dear Roderick,

Clothilde and I hope you're doing well at school. We're doing fine.

Love,

Mr. Smiley

Clutching the postcard, Mr. Smiley drives into town to buy stamps, mail the postcard, pause for a Cafe Smiley -- which, as you may know, consists of warm chocolate milk topped with whipped cream and sprinkles -- feed the ducks, shop for cheese and buy a case of fresh postcards.

Smileys send a lot of postcards.