Finale

Harriet was happy when the time between council meetings went by without any more incidents with the TV. Mama seemed to be happy to be going to the next meeting, anxious to see some old friends. The only mention of the "telling telly" was when Mama noted that Mr. Bellingham seemed to be doing fine. Harriet had merely agreed with her without mentioning the TV.

On the night of the council meeting, they all left about the same time. Harriet kissed them both and said, "You two have a good time. I set the TV in the living room to record the meeting. We can watch it when we all get home." As Harriet drove out, she saw Charles getting Mama settled into his car. "What a lucky woman I am," she thought.

The High School Dance was held, as always, in the gym. Harriet was not into today's music or dancing. She wished she had been with Mama and Charles but she had promised Ellen. Harriet was a woman who kept promises but she was glad when the evening was over. As she drove home, she even felt anxious to see the recording of the meeting. She hoped Mama had a good time.

When she went in the door she could hear that the TV was on to one of the programs they all liked.

"Ok," she called, "I'm here. I hope I got the Council Meeting recorded. Let's watch it after this program is over."

Charles came over and kissed her. "We're all set up," he told her.

"Maybe we should explain first, Charles," Mama sounded fearful.

"Let's see it now," Harriet almost demanded. She never liked to put anything off. The best time was always "Now" with her.

Charles patted Mama on the shoulder as he sat beside Harriet on the couch. "It's OK, Mama. She will know sooner or later."

When the TV program was over, Charles changed to the recorded program.

The beginning seemed to be just a bunch of people saying "Hello" and getting settled. Everyone found a seat as soon as the chairman pounded the gavel on the table.

Charles felt Harriet shiver. "Cold?" He asked.

"Just a little," she answered. Charles put his arm around her and drew her closer.

The Chairman called the meeting to order then proceeded, "Before we go on with the meeting, there is some bad news I have to bring to you. Dave Bellingham's son called me this afternoon to tell me that Dave had been in a car accident today and had died after getting to the hospital. The family was there before he…," the Chairman stopped to compose himself then continued "The last thing he told his son was to tell me that he wouldn't be able to make it tonight. They will let us know later about the arrangements. Shall we all bow our heads in silence as a tribute to Dave."

Both those at the meeting and the three watching the TV were silent. Mama was the first to break the silence with, "Just a coincidence."

The Chairman started on the business of the meeting. Everything was handled and the meeting was over when the recording ended.

Harriet was shaking so much that Charles put both arms around her. "Will you be OK? I'll take Mama to her bedroom."

Harriet stood up. "I'm fine. I'll take her. I can help her get ready for bed. I'll be back in a few minutes." She pushed Mama toward her room.

Mama reached up and patted her daughter's hand. "It's all right, Harriet. I understand."

When Harriet had helped her mother change and get into bed, she reached down and hugged her. "You know I love you, Mom."

"You'd have to, to put up with me and that damn "telling telly." But everything is fine. See you in the morning." Mama pulled the covers up and settled down.

Harriet got back to the living room before she broke down completely.

Charles Got up and put his arms around her."What on earth is the matter? We were never that close to the Bellinghams. Besides, I did return all those things I borrowed from him." Charles tried to lighten up the conversation as he pulled her closer.

Harriet pulled away and tried to stop crying as she told him, "It's not that, Charles. I couldn't see Mama at the meeting and I think she couldn't see herself, either."

Harriet was happy when the time between council meetings went by without any more incidents with the TV. Mama seemed to be happy to be going to the next meeting, anxious to see some old friends. The only mention of the "telling telly" was when Mama noted that Mr. Bellingham seemed to be doing fine. Harriet had merely agreed with her without mentioning the TV.

On the night of the council meeting, they all left about the same time. Harriet kissed them both and said, "You two have a good time. I set the TV in the living room to record the meeting. We can watch it when we all get home." As Harriet drove out, she saw Charles getting Mama settled into his car. "What a lucky woman I am," she thought.

The High School Dance was held, as always, in the gym. Harriet was not into today's music or dancing. She wished she had been with Mama and Charles but she had promised Ellen. Harriet was a woman who kept promises but she was glad when the evening was over. As she drove home, she even felt anxious to see the recording of the meeting. She hoped Mama had a good time.

When she went in the door she could hear that the TV was on to one of the programs they all liked.

"Ok," she called, "I'm here. I hope I got the Council Meeting recorded. Let's watch it after this program is over."

Charles came over and kissed her. "We're all set up," he told her.

"Maybe we should explain first, Charles," Mama sounded fearful.

"Let's see it now," Harriet almost demanded. She never liked to put anything off. The best time was always "Now" with her.

Charles patted Mama on the shoulder as he sat beside Harriet on the couch. "It's OK, Mama. She will know sooner or later."

When the TV program was over, Charles changed to the recorded program.

The beginning seemed to be just a bunch of people saying "Hello" and getting settled. Everyone found a seat as soon as the chairman pounded the gavel on the table.

Charles felt Harriet shiver. "Cold?" He asked.

"Just a little," she answered. Charles put his arm around her and drew her closer.

The Chairman called the meeting to order then proceeded, "Before we go on with the meeting, there is some bad news I have to bring to you. Dave Bellingham's son called me this afternoon to tell me that Dave had been in a car accident today and had died after getting to the hospital. The family was there before he…," the Chairman stopped to compose himself then continued "The last thing he told his son was to tell me that he wouldn't be able to make it tonight. They will let us know later about the arrangements. Shall we all bow our heads in silence as a tribute to Dave."

Both those at the meeting and the three watching the TV were silent. Mama was the first to break the silence with, "Just a coincidence."

The Chairman started on the business of the meeting. Everything was handled and the meeting was over when the recording ended.

Harriet was shaking so much that Charles put both arms around her. "Will you be OK? I'll take Mama to her bedroom."

Harriet stood up. "I'm fine. I'll take her. I can help her get ready for bed. I'll be back in a few minutes." She pushed Mama toward her room.

Mama reached up and patted her daughter's hand. "It's all right, Harriet. I understand."

When Harriet had helped her mother change and get into bed, she reached down and hugged her. "You know I love you, Mom."

"You'd have to, to put up with me and that damn "telling telly." But everything is fine. See you in the morning." Mama pulled the covers up and settled down.

Harriet got back to the living room before she broke down completely.

Charles Got up and put his arms around her."What on earth is the matter? We were never that close to the Bellinghams. Besides, I did return all those things I borrowed from him." Charles tried to lighten up the conversation as he pulled her closer.

Harriet pulled away and tried to stop crying as she told him, "It's not that, Charles. I couldn't see Mama at the meeting and I think she couldn't see herself, either."

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