Page 97 of Enemies in Paradise

“What do invasive rodents have to do with anything?” she retorts, and I’m shocked she’d talk about the girls that way.

I’m ready to call the mayor out on her inappropriate behavior when I hear Bear behind me. “That’s the name of the girls’ team, Mayor.”

I sink back into my seat, grateful I didn’t really blow things up, while Lester leans into his mic. “I second Ms. Lee’s motion.”

“You’re only allowed to moderate while you have the gavel, Lester. You can’t second anything.” Voglmeyer points to the gavel in his hand, and Lester blinks as though it appeared there by magic.

Then the mayor turns back to me. “Only council members can put forth motions.”

“Then I’d like to make a motion…” another council member, who I thought was asleep, pipes up. He looks at me, a little confused, and I hold my breath. “That we do the thing the young lady just proposed. Table signing the application for a month. In the meantime, in order not to place an undue burden on the taxpayers, the young man can attempt to raise half the money for the purchase of the pond.”

I stare at the councilman, too shocked to say the words aloud that are playing on repeat in my head.That’s not what I wanted.

“That won’t work.” Voglmeyer sits on the edge of her chair and grabs the mic. “A majority of the council has already signedthe application for historic status. Mr. Thomsen is proposing the building be razed, but it can’t be if it’s designated historic.”

A feeling of relief and gratitude for Mayor Voglmeyer washes over me like a rogue wave. I don’t see it coming, and when I get over my surprise, I immediately regret the feelings.

“You can sign anything you want, but I own the building.” A voice from the back of the room draws all eyes to Grandpa Sparks in front of the doors, leaning on his cane. “The application needs my signature, too.”

Who knows when he came in, but he’s definitely got everyone’s attention now.

“Unless I okay it, that building will remain as unhistoric as it’s always been. And a month is a fair amount of time for Bear to find a solution that will allow these girls to keep playing hockey. If he decides to put any money raised into building an indoor rink instead of purchasing the pond, you’ll have my signature. If not, then I’ll support his proposal to tear down the shop.”

Grandpa’s eyes briefly land on mine, and I imagine there’s an apology in them for supporting Bear, but I can’t be sure. He doesn’t say anything else before walking out of the room. Before the door closes behind him, Lester bangs the gavel. “All in favor, say, aye.”

To my surprise, and everyone else’s, Mayor Voglmeyer is the only nay. Even Mr. Hockey-is-For-Boys says aye.

As soon as the votes are in, Lester bangs the gavel again and proclaims the motion passed. Then quickly adds, “If there’s no further business, this meeting is adjourned until we reconvene next month.”

For a man in his second century of life, Lester moves fast. He’s out the door before most of us—including the girls—have stood. When I see Mayor Voglmeyer go after him, I understand why he’s suddenly so spry.

The rest of us glance around, uncertain whether to celebrate. Bear has a second chance to get his hockey rink. His girls may actually get to play.

I can’t believe I’m happy about that, but I am. The girls are already talking about how to earn money for a rink, trying to decide if they’d want an indoor one or if they’d rather keep the pond. I hope their confidence pays off. I want them to believe they can reach their dreams.

Because I think I just ruined my chances of living mine.

Chapter 32

Bear

The girls are excited,so I hide my disappointment from them as we walk out of the council chambers. They skip and bounce down the hall, talking over each other with their ideas for how to fundraise the money we’ll need. Occasionally they remember I’m there and ask, “What do you think, Coach?”

They’re good ideas. That’s what I think, and that’s what I tell them. Except for Cora’s bikini carwash suggestion. There’s snow on the ground, number one. And, number two, even if it were one hundred degrees out, I wouldn’t be okay with ten-year-old girls wearing bikinis to wash cars.

The bake sale, yard sale, and lemonade stand are all workable. And Janie’s already set up a Go Fund Me. We might, at least, be able to earn enough to have a pizza party with those fundraisers.

But there’s no way we’ll make enough money in one month to pay for half the cost of the pond. We’ll need corporate sponsorship, or the kind of philanthropic donation Georgia mentioned. I don’t say that to the girls, of course. I’m not dashing their dreams before they’ve had a chance to revel in them. That’s the beauty of being a kid: you don’t know what things cost, so you don’t know how impossible it might be to get what you want.

The grown-ups in the room, on the other hand, know what a long shot it is that we’ll find all the money we need. When we reach the main doors, Janie’s dad claps me on the back and says, “It was a good try, Coach.”

The other parents nod their agreement with him, also patting my back on their way out the door, uttering similar words. I’m both relieved and sad that we’re all on the same page when it comes to the reality of our situation. The odds of keeping the pond are pretty low. The Paradise Squirrels may be done before they’ve even played another team.

When the last of the girls and parents walk out of City Hall, I’m left alone in the foyer with my family.

“A good try?” Dad says, and we all turn toward him. “It was more than a good try. All you have to do is get some donations, and the city will put up the rest of the money. You’ve got some momentum now, Bear.”

My eyes travel around the circle my siblings, Seb, and Hope have formed around me. They each meet my gaze with a smile and an encouraging nod.

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