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10/21/2004: "The Summing-Up"

I got my laundry done early so I could be at the Board of Education building in time for the Rummage meeting. I was fifteen minutes early. Two of the other guys were there, talking in the hall about health issues. We went over how the post-cleanup-cleanup had gone; then we went into the meeting room. It was steam heat. I went back outside as Mrs. Grayper came up. There had been a huge accident on 206 and traffic was diverted down her street; she was recounting this to her husband on her cellphone as she came up the steps. The Rummage committee began to arrive and the meeting started. We went over financial matters, discussed problems and future changes, folded letter, checked mailing lists, had little private digressions. Agnes came in late and left in a hurry. Just as things were winding up Peggoty came in. Afteer the meeting some of us ligered to clarify some issues and brainstorm. Mrs. Wickfield left to go to her house, next door, and cook for a lunch she was going to. She turned off the lights on Peggotty, Grayper and I, the last ones left and with plenty still to discuss. We walked downtown and went to a coffee shop, next door to the storefront that had been Grayper's store, a few years ago. They had grilled-cheese sandwiches, I had coffee. We left after forty-five minutes and walked back to our cars. We stand around talking. Mrs. Wickfield pulls out of her driveway, late for her lunch, and stops by us, amazed that we have lingered so long. We part, each back to our own lives, until we meet again.