Resolution

“Okay, folks. I would like to thank you all for coming to the monthly meeting of the WM Club town meeting. In this meeting, we want to cover the lunch program for the school in September and the river. The river water level is really low due to the lack of rain and it will impact our drinking as well as recreational swimming. Here it is the beginning of summer and I don’t think it will get better.”

“But before we get into those subjects, Marvin asked me if he could speak on a subject that definitely affects all of us. It has always been a problem and there has never been a resolution. He has an idea and wants to discuss it and get any feed back. So let me turn the floor over to Marvin.”

“Good afternoon folks. Have to say I have been thinking about this for some time. Several incidences have prompted me to come up with a possible answer. I mean, it was a week ago. I was swimming down in the cove when a group of people drove up and got out of the car. They were all in bathing suits. They had all their stuff for a picnic and piled everything on and near the main picnic table there. One of the men started the grill. One big guy left the group and headed into the cove. I watched him swimming out when someone in the group started yelling out at him. Telling him to look and get out. Everyone started screaming and yelling, pointing at me. I have never heard such cursing and ugly words. He stopped swimming out, turned and saw me. He started back to shore, flailing and splashing. I thought he was going to drown so I swam to help him. But he got worse and everyone screamed louder and started throwing rocks at me. When he got to the shore, they all grabbed up their stuff, piled it in the car and drove away. There I was, all by myself, swimming in the cove. I knew something had to be done about the situation.”

“Now, since the Fourth of July is in a week, I have a plan. Before all those people arrive at the picnic ground, I am going to get there early and get up on the main picnic table and be ready to greet them. When they arrive and come to the picnic area and see me, I am going to jump up and open my mouth in a big grin and smile. I will have brushed my teeth good and gargled so my teeth will gleam in the sun. There will be no mistake that I mean business at making sure I want to discuss the problem we have had forever. I am so tired of them treating us like we have leprosy or something. And maybe there will be peace, understanding and tranquility and we will resolve this issue of fear and mistrust. Then they will see us differently and end the discrimination. The walls that have separated us for so long will come down.”

“Thank you all for listening to me. If you have any suggestions or words of encouragement, please chat with me after the meeting. Thank you. I will turn the meting back over to Bob so the main issues can be discussed.”

“Hello, everyone. Here it is the last week in August. Sorry we have not had a meeting in over a month, but you all know the situation. It’s such a shame. Poor Marvin. You know he went to the picnic ground on the morning of July fourth. Larry went to accompany him, but stayed back, not wanting to disrupt Marvin’s plan. He saw the whole thing happen. I’m going to let him tell you about it. Larry. Here. Tell them.”

“Yeah. I went with him. Marvin did just as he said he would do. He worked real hard to look pleasant sitting there on the picnic table. Finally around nine thirty, a whole bunch of cars drove up and a ton of people got out. They all headed to the picnic area. I guess a bunch of them were about ten feet from the table when Marvin jumped up and smiled at everyone. That’s when all Hell broke loose. They were all screaming and yelling and running. Several of the men ran to their cars and trucks. Marvin jumped up again and smiled, but it just seemed to make things worse. The men returned with shot guns and started shooting. I know Marvin was hit at least five times. It was awful. I turned and raced away for fear they might come after me. It was terrible. Horrible. Blood everywhere. I do know they all quickly packed up again and left the picnic area immediately and didn’t return. It was murder. Unprovoked murder. Where is the justice?”

“The mortician said that Marvin was so messed up and disfiguring, they had to have a closed coffin service. Marvin left behind his wife and four kids. The kids have been talking about revenge and finding those people and killing them. And so the issue of misunderstanding continues. No resolution. What can I say? Well. Let me turn the meeting back over to Bob. Thank you for letting me say my piece.”

“You’re welcome, Larry. Yes. You know the funeral was so sad. Many attended to pay their respect. We are selling some pull over shirts in various colors. The WM Club thought it a nice tribute of support and to proclaim who we are and to be proud of who and what we are. And we have rights, too. They come in white, blue, pink, orange and violet. I don’t recommend the white as it gets dirty too easily. And here. Let me show you how easy it slips over my head and fits snug around the neck which means it won’t slip off easily. We can and should wear the shirts proudly. And notice the bold black lettering on the back. So easy to read. ‘WE ARE WATER MOCASSINS’.”

THE END

Okay. I must confess. This writer has a huge fear of them and all things like them. But I thought it might be interesting to look at from ‘their’ point of view. I hope you enjoyed it and maybe made you chuckle.

Thornton Goode