Are you showing?
No, I foxhunt and trail ride.
I wish we had foxhunting here. We have to go to St. Louis or Kansas City. It teaches balance over terrain, something we dont really get here. And, of course, the other professors and I have to tell the kids the fox isnt harmed.
Good for environmental studies. You see things and get to places many people dont get to even with ATVs. Harry noticed the framed photos on the wall. Quite a gallery. Saddlebreds are so beautiful, no wonder movie stars like William Shatner and Renata DeCarlo show them.
Beautiful they are. I wish more people realized how versatile they are.
Yes, Harry replied simply. Will you be giving a speech tomorrow night?
Me? No. Gayle smiled with relief. Jahnae Barnett, our president, will. Have you met her?
No, I just got in about three hours ago.
Ill make a point of introducing you. Shes extraordinary: a good administrator, someone who loves the classroom, a wonderful fund-raiser, but most of all, a true visionary. When people do what they love, everyone benefits.
I believe that. Your career testifies to that. Im sorry I wont hear you speak.
Come back. Actually do come back. We keep riding in the ring in winter, but when the show season starts, we do take the students outside. Do you know most of our equestrian science graduates are working in the horse world?
I didnt know that.
Gayle glanced down at Tucker, who had come around to sit by her. What an expressive face. Corgis are tough dogs. She paused. We are very grateful to Aunt Tally and to her family for allowing us to celebrate her centennial and raise funds. I dont need to tell you how tight things are.
Doesnt seem to be an end in sight.
Her niece, Mrs. Sanburne, whom Im sure you know, has pledged $250,000. Callaway Hills Stables has also pledged a nice sum, because the late Mrs. Weldon, Gayle paused, adored Tally. Tally stood up to her, but she was funny about it. Mrs. Weldon respected her because Tally never told her anything that wasnt so.
Thats Aunt Tally. Harry nodded.
We are hoping to raise half a million. I dont know where we are now, but perhaps after Tallys speech, which should be memorable, more will be forthcoming.
A half a million. Harry pursed her lips. Thats an ambitious sum.
Gayle pushed back a stray lock of hair. Yes, it is. Then I think about those mega-universities with portfolios worth billions. Its overwhelming.
She smiled broadly. We arent a mega-university for which I am grateful. What we have, though, is our Ivy League Society. Did Tally mention it to you?
No.
Many of our alumnae and alumni and friends, as well as people who did not attend here but who are attracted to our ethic and our commitment to the student, make William Woods University a beneficiary of a will, insurance policy, or trust. Tally is a member of the Ivy League Society, but she warns us that she intends to live forever.
Harry laughed. Shes making a run for it.
I so look forward to seeing her tomorrow and to hearing her speech on the very day she hits the century mark.
At that moment, feeling a Tanqueray glow, Tally was discussing her speech.
And ? She had given Inez the gist of it.
Blossom, reality is always in order. From what youve told me, thats what youre doing: telling the truth. Odd, isnt it? We try to tell the truth throughout our lives, but for some reason people dont begin to listen until were old.
Idiots! Aunt Tally waved a dismissive hand.
More by the minute, too. Inez settled back in the comfortable chair. People believe what they see on TV. Astonishes me. Or what beeps up from their handheld BlackBerries and whatever.
All of that controlled by large corporations. Well, not blogging and messages, but I am always suspicious where large profits are in order. I mean, Chickpea, theres not big money to be made from a tablet and a pen. Electrify it and well.
Profits, yes, but I dont think the power companies are perverting messages. However, all these devices draw power and give off heat. And think about it: You cant just throw out a computer. There are chips and things in there that apparently become dangerous when disintegrating, so they must be properly disposed of. If that is the caseand according to our refuse rules in Virginia, it isthen why arent they
dangerous to use? Isnt heat coming off the screen? Arent those little semiconductors and wires emitting fumes or something unhealthy? Inez, trained in the scientific method, was highly suspicious.
Of course. Call attention to it with proof, and everyone and everything tied to computers will deny it. Remember when the tobacco industry fought the truth? How blindly stupid of them. Am I against smoking? No. But it damages the lungs. End of story. Am I against computers? No. But they damage the eyes and God knows what else.
Truth is ever and always in short supply. Inez smiled ruefully.
Aunt Tally raised her voice. You know what, I dont give a damn. I care about my people. If other people want to be sheep, let them march off to be sheared or, worse, to the slaughterhouse. You cant save people who wont save themselves.
I suppose the truth is, you dont want them to take you down with them. Inez drew a deep breath. To change the subject, this alumnae committee is making an old woman older.
Slyly, Aunt Tally purred, Is that possible?
Inez laughed. Youre older than I.
Aunt Tally laughed, too. Touche. Whats troubling you?
Inez scrunched down deeper in the chair. Pewter had artfully placed herself on the padded area so Inez stroked her, which pleased the little egotist.
Aunt Tally raised her eyebrows.
Before I answer your question, let me ask you one. Do you feel old?
Oh, a pause followed, when I get out of bed it takes me fifteen minutes to straighten up. And I never feel old when I take my medicine. She held up her martini glass. Truthfully, no. I look in the mirror. I know Im old, but inside I dont feel it.
I didnt. I do now.
Why, you look the same to me. You have boundless energy. And you take no prisoners. You havent changed.
I realize I dont relish solving problems like I once did. I thank Mariah DAngelo and Flo Langston for that.
Really? Aunt Tallys eyebrows shot upward quickly.
Yes. There was a time when I would have felt such accomplishment in harnessing those two to pull together. Now I think I can do it but Im
tired, tired of peoples petty damned egos. If I didnt love our alma mater so much, Id have chucked the whole bag of beans.
Aunt Tally rubbed her tennis elbow, which ached from the increasing low pressure. Cant Liz resume being chairwoman?
Hell, no. Thats why Jahnae asked me to again chair the committee. Liz bounced between Mariah and Flo like a shuttlecock.
I thought our broker was Flos creature. Then Aunt Tally corrected herself. Im talking about only a small portion of my discretionary funds when I call Liz my broker; you know that Scott and Stringfellow manages the bulk of my family funds. She cited a prestigious Virginia firm whose performance record and care of clients spanned most of the twentieth century.
Yes and no. The board itself elected Liz their chair last year. Shes still youngwell, young to us; shes barely forty, if that.
Darling, these days they get face-lifts, boob jobs, fanny-lifts, tummy tucks at thirty.
Inez wrinkled her nose. All that violence done to young bodies. Well, back to your question, more or less. Liz pays great attention to Flo; after all, they are in the same business. But Mariah has pots of money. Liz tried to walk a middle course as chair, but they both overwhelmed her.
Hmm. I never perceived her as weak.