LITTLE STORY ABOUT HAPPY VALLEY

By Slur

This is the Happy Valley, the Big Hard, where the ideal grassroots happiness hangs like a mist over the suspicions and fears beneath. The Town Councilman states: "We must make way for evil if we are ever to defeat it," then adds, "Evil is our friend."

Arthur Farmer stood up. "Listen, councilman, you're entitled to your opinion, but I'm just not sure we should do that." A minute passed in ten seconds. Art tugged at the sweat-soaked collar of his vinyl jacket.

"Do you have some special, ah, knowledge regarding Evil, Mister Farmer?"

A shudder went through the gatherers, like wind through a wheatfield. Art felt the faces bending toward him. He had to say something, to expose the trick, but his eyes seemed unable to blink. "I, uh...."

"Ha ha ha," mocked the Councilman. "Look, Art, we're all on the same side here. We all want the same things. Why, I'm no different than you, Arthur. I want what you want. We're together on this, right?"

"Jesus," thought Art, "He's digging it deeper. He's trying to drop me into the abyss! I've got to figure out a way to expose his black tricks!"

"Hello, Art, Earth to Art!"

Art looked hard at the Councilman, so tidy in his pressed dark suit. A drop of sweat got into his eye and he swatted at it. "Agh! My eye!"

"Art, are you all right?" The Councilman leaned forward and reached out his left hand.

Even through his stinging eye Art could sense the mockery of it. He threw himself into the aisle between folding chairs and staggered across the gymnasium, flailing blindly.

"God, I hope we can move on here folks. Are there any more questioners or doubters out there, or is Mister Farmer ... unique?"

Mary Drucker rubbed the back of her head where Art Farmer had inadvertently thumped her during his fleeing episode.

"Is that a hand up?" Mary heard the Councilman say in her direction. She looked at the two soft white hands crossed in her lap. She wondered if she had somehow raised her hand over her head when she was done rubbing it. She thought back, unconsciously repeating the action.

She heard the Councilman again: "Yes, hello, is that Miss Drucker there?"

She felt compelled to stand. She was being addressed by an older man, and a well-dressed older man with some authority. She hoped he wouldn't ask her a hard question. "Hi, I'm Mary Drucker," she said in a pianissimo voice.

"Mary," began the Councilman, "Do you wish to express some doubts about our decision to aid the Principle of Darkness out so it won't crash into anything?"

Mary looked again at her pale white hands. They hung limply from her wrists and she tried to gesture with them so she wouldn't seem so meek. She thought about what the Councilman said once, about the decision. "I remember the decision," she said.

"Hoorah!" cried the crowd.

THE END

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