Page 44 of Bad to the Bone
Chapter Twenty-Two
“IFeveryone will please take their seats, this meeting of the town council is about to begin,” Lewis Boggs, the council secretary, announced to the council members and spectators milling around the room. While the council chamber wasn’t as full as the night of the public hearing, Alex suspected there were still more people in attendance than the typical monthly session.
“Those citizens who will be addressing the council before the vote, please take a seat at the speakers’ table. Everyone else, please find somewhere to sit so we can get started.” The five council members arranged themselves at two long tables along the back wall of the chamber, facing the audience. Mayor Findlay claimed the center seat, with Lewis Boggs beside him on his right. Ty Cochrane, president of the First National Bank of Freeland and the council’s treasurer, flanked them on one side with Clint Harris, one of the two council members at large, on the other. Willis Hembree, the second member at large, took the place farthest to the right.
A third table had been set up in front of the council members’ bench, with two seats facing the council members. Odell had already occupied the chair to the left, directly across from Mayor Findlay, leaving the chair on the right to Alex.
Alex hadn’t volunteered to represent the opposition position at the council meeting, but his fellow library board members had contended that he was the most eloquent speaker to present their final arguments. Swallowing down his nervousness, he took his seat and glanced behind him at the rows of folding chairs set up to accommodate the unusual number of attendees.
Laura Lou, Jennifer, and Andy sat in the first row, along with the librarians from Freeland’s elementary, middle, and high schools. The other spectators seemed to array themselves on opposite sides of the chamber based on whichever position they supported. Alex tried not to find it foreboding that more seats were filled behind Odell’s side of the table.
Just as Mayor Findlay was about to gavel the meeting to order, Ricky Lee and Crae walked in and took seats in the back row on Alex’s side of the room. Alex gave a nod of acknowledgment before turning around to face the council members. He and Ricky Lee had spoken during their morning run about how little Alex had been able to learn about Odell’s finances, but Ricky Lee hadn’t told Alex he planned to attend the meeting. Seeing him there gave Alex’s confidence a sorely needed lift.
The council meeting followed a format similar to the library board’s, beginning with a roll call of the council members and Lewis Boggs reading and recording acceptance of the previous meeting’s minutes. Ty Cochrane gave the treasurer’s report, which was also formally accepted. Then Lewis announced, “The council will now review old business, chief of which is the proposal by Odell Tillman to purchase the property on South Wichita Avenue currently occupied by the Freeland Public Library.”
“The council has reviewed the input received at last week’s public forum, as well as material provided directly by the proposed purchaser,” Mayor Findlay announced. Alex looked back at Laura Lou and the rest of the library board in concern, but they mirrored his confusion. No one had said anything to them about Odell providing information directly to the town council. Alex wanted to protest, but he didn’t know if he had any grounds. It wasn’t as if this was a formal trial, where each participant had the right to view any material produced by the opposing side.
“Before putting the matter to a vote, the council will allow one final statement each in favor of and opposing the proposed sale. To begin, I turn the floor over to the projected purchaser, Mr. Odell Tillman.”
“Projected purchaser” made it sound to Alex like it was all but a done deal, at least as far as the mayor was concerned. Fighting to keep his expression neutral, he turned slightly to face Odell as he stood to address the council.
“Mayor Findlay and members of the town council, I would like to thank you all for considering my proposal. You all know me, and you know how much good I’ve done for this town. Your approval of this sale will allow Tillman Motors to provide even more benefits to the people of Freeland. My opponents have argued that Freeland needs the library more than it needs more tax revenue and more jobs.” That wasn’t what they’d said at all, but Alex saw heads nodding both at the council tables and in the audience. “If you watch the news, you know that this isn’t an issue only here in Freeland. Funding for luxuries like libraries is going to be cut nationally, meaning even more money would have to come out of our own pockets to support a dilapidated building that doesn’t provide any information we can’t find faster and for free online. I know you agree that makes no sense, and will vote in favor of selling me the land. Thank you.” Odell sat down, grinning broadly, as if he was sure he’d won the council over.
Alex cleared his throat and stood to face the council members. “Gentlemen, a library is more than just a building. It’s a gateway, a portal to new worlds of knowledge and imagination that is available to everyone, regardless of their age or level of literacy or their social or economic background. Libraries ensure that information and technology are made available to everyone, whether or not they can afford it on their own. Mr. Tillman has made claims for the benefit his expansion would provide Freeland, which I don’t believe anyone has been able to verify. But you can see the benefits of our library every day—in the preschoolers who are learning to read, in our Hispanic citizens learning English as a second language, in the unemployed workers who are learning the computer skills to find new jobs, in the ordinary citizens who check out books and movies and music to enrich their lives. If you vote to approve this proposal, the primary beneficiary will be Odell Tillman. If you vote to reject this proposal, the beneficiaries will be every resident of Freeland. Thank you.”
A smattering of applause came from behind him as he sat, quickly cut off when Mayor Findlay rapped his gavel. “Thank you both for your remarks. The matter will now be put to a vote.” Alex clenched his hands in his lap and glanced over his shoulder at Ricky Lee, who smiled broadly.
“As to the proposed sale of the lot of land on South Wichita Avenue to Odell Tillman, will all those in favor raise your right hand.”
Mayor Findlay raised his hand, as did Ty Cochrane. To Alex’s elation, those were the only two votes in favor. The mayor paused and turned his head from left to right as if he’d somehow missed another vote, but the other council members’ hands remained down. He scowled and lowered his hand, and Ty followed suit.
“All those opposed to the proposed sale, raise your right hand.” Lewis Boggs, Clint Harris, and Willis Hembree’s hands went up, Willis adding a little nod as if to reinforce his vote.
“There are two votes in favor of the proposal and three votes against the proposal. The proposal has failed to gain the votes necessary to pass, and the sale is not approved.”
Alex couldn’t hold back a fist pump of glee at the results. He turned around to see Jennifer hugging Laura Lou and Andy. When she saw him she grinned and did a little victory dance. Alex smiled back and had looked up to meet Ricky Lee’s gaze when Odell’s voice broke through the chatter.
“You honestly voted in favor of this faggot? What the hell is the matter with you, believing anything a failure like him has to say? He’s a queer! He’s been a queer since high school, and now he’s proved it, hanging around with this other homo criminal who ought to be behind bars!” Odell pointed straight at Ricky Lee.
This was the moment Alex had lived in dread of for eleven years. Now that it had finally arrived, he was surprised to find it no longer held any power over him. He’d come to realize that he wasn’t ashamed of loving Ricky Lee, and he didn’t care who knew it, even if it only lasted until Ricky Lee returned to Portland.
“Technically, Odell, I’m bisexual. I’ve slept with both men and women,” Alex said calmly.
“Which makes you twice the man Odell is,” Ricky Lee interjected, coming up to join him.
“I’d place you as demisexual,” Crae offered. “Meaning you only experience sexual attraction when you form a strong romantic or emotional connection with another person, of any gender.”
“That’s possible,” Alex admitted, exchanging a glance with Ricky Lee. “I’m not sure the label is all that important. The reality is that I’m still the same person I’ve always been, no matter who I sleep with. I’m not sure why it’s any of your business, Odell, except that you’ve always seemed to have a problem with me. Back in high school I could maybe explain it as jealousy, but today you’re the successful one and I’m the ‘failure.’ And yet I wonder which one of us is happier.”
Odell didn’t answer, giving a final glare to Alex and Ricky Lee before stomping out of the council chamber, muttering under his breath. Mayor Findlay called the session back into order, and after confirming there was no new business, he concluded the meeting within a few minutes.
“Alex, thank you for your masterful summation,” Laura Lou said after the final gavel fell, wrapping him in a perfumed hug. “If any of the councilmen were undecided, I’m sure you swayed them to vote against the proposal.”
“And congratulations on coming out of the closet.” Jennifer added her own hug after Laura Lou’s.
“It doesn’t bother you?” Alex asked.
“Are you kidding? You convinced them to keep the library open. You could tell us you sleep with goats and we wouldn’t care.”
