CHAPTER 229: Don't Tell The Wife

Edna couldn't quite put her finger on it but George was acting out of character lately.  He seemed more emotional and quick to change mood.  One minute he was talking about his work in great detail, the next he would look furtively out of the living room window as if he had feared something that lurked outside...

"George, is there something bothering you?  You seem a bit jumpy at the moment" she said, quizzically.

"Oh nothing in particular, my love...I've got a lot on my plate work wise..." he said defensively.

"My love?  You don't usually talk in such a flowery manner..." 

"Don't I?  Well, maybe I don't heap enough praise on you for all the wonderful things you do, Sugar Pie"

"George!  Mind your language!  We have a League of Decency meeting later today and it sends out the wrong message if you go around calling me 'sugar pie' in public."

"Sorry dear...I will mind my manners when we're out there"

And out there was Uptown San Myshuno, the heart of the city.  Edna was scoping out the scene because in a few hours the League of Decency were going to hold a rally there.  Already hanging around there was a young man with a Beatnik style beard and glasses (at least Edna thought he looked the Beatnik type) who was checking a large and professional looking camera.  She decided to approach him.

"Hello there, Edna Sneedley; the League of Decency...thank you for coming along today.  Now we shall be assembling over there, by the fountain, where there will be some speakers and a more informal discussion with members of the public.  You can position yourself anywhere you like as long as you don't block the speaker whilst they're giving a talk and if you want any shots of myself then please don't hesitate to ask....after all, I have a great respect for our Fourth Estate...."

The man looked confused.  "Excuse me, Miss Sneedley...I have no idea what you're talking about."

Now it was Edna's turn to look confused.  "But aren't you here to cover the League of Decency rally?"

"No, ma'am, I'm here for a publicity shoot for rising pop star Lisa Richardson"

At that moment a lively young blonde woman popped up next to the photographer and introduced herself.  "Hey there, Lisa Richardson...Lil' Lisa according to my publicist.  Groovy to meet you...I don't discriminate against my older fans."

Edna shook her head and just walked off.  

She went to get a drink from somewhere but there was only one coffee shack in the area and none of the bars around here were open so a coffee it would have to be.  She cursed under her breath that she didn't bring along a hip flask of something stronger with her today.  However, she didn't have much time to rue that decision as a very flamboyantly dressed young man who sported a very thin moustache and obviously dyed blonde hair approached her.

"This much talent..." he said, cryptically, holding his thumb and forefinger close together to indicate a tiny amount.

"I beg your pardon?" replied Edna.

"That Lisa Richardson, she's got practically no talent, no personality but she has a good agent and can pout for the camera.  May I join you?" said the young man, indicating an empty seat opposite Edna.

"Erm, why, yes...I don't see why not.  So you know that young, brash and overly self-confident girl, do you?"

"For my sins, alas yes." he replied, sitting down.  "I have to in my line of work:  Style critic."

Now Edna wouldn't normally approve of a man like this one who dressed in an outrageous manner, dyed his hair blonde and with a camp voice but something about his blunt cynicism appealed to her.

"A style critic you say?  And how are you with all the latest styles and fads?" she asked, probingly.

"Fads come, fads go...style endures.  I don't care if it's mini, midi or sackcloth as long as it's worn with class.  I mean, look at the models...Suzy Parker, Jean Shrimpton and Colleen Corbett; all classy.  Marianne Faithful and Lisa Richardson; trashy.  By the way my name is Diego Lobo...and you are?"

"Edna Sneedley; Chairwoman of The League of Decency." 

"Oh so YOU'RE the Edna Sneedley I've heard about.  Enchante, madam"

He had heard of her...now she was liking him more.

"Yes I am, Mr Lobo.  I hope what you've heard is all good."

"Honey, I've heard so many things about you:  Good and bad.  I neither approve nor disapprove of your organisation:  If it gets rid of nasty, cheap fashion I'm all on board.  Now might I say you have a strong look going there, Mrs Sneedley...may I call you Edna?  Good.  You look a lot like Joan Crawford but I would suggest updating the look:  Jackie Kennedy's Chanel style needs an update.  Do check out Pierre Cardin, I think he would suit you."

"Oh Mr Lobo, you do flatter me....but DO go on..."

Meanwhile George was about to begin the opening speech of the League's meeting.  "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.  My name is George Sneedley, vice-chair and membership secretary of The League of Decency...today we have many guest speakers addressing a wide variety of topics including lawlessness, the fight against Communism, jaywalking, littering, public health and sexual mores....but first up is Dr Julia Epstein of Willow Creek Community hospital to talk about the importance of child health in our local community..."

There was a small ripple of applause from the small crowd as Julia walked up to the podium.  Acknowledging her audience she began her talk in a hesitant tone until she found her confidence as her topic became more technical about medicine.

Afterwards Edna was approving of Julia's speech but still took the time to lightly criticise her presentation.  "On the whole, very good, young Julia but you need to hook your audience in with your opening statement... I recommend beginning with something startling and terrifying to really grip the crowd!"

George came over to chat with the two ladies.  "What did you think, George?  About Julia's speech?" asked Edna.

"Oh quite nice, actually.  Quite nice" he said, in a faintly vague manner as if his mind was elsewhere.

Edna was too busy looking around for a member of the public in attendance to give a League leaflet to so she didn't notice George's manner, but Julia did.

"George..." Julia began "are you alright?  I saw you at the Blue Velvet Bar last night and you seemed distracted..."

"No you didn't" snapped back George.

"I'm sure I did...we spoke outside the bar..."

"I wasn't in the bar and if I were I wasn't distracted" he again snapped but in a hushed tone that wouldn't alert Edna.

"Now here comes our next speaker, Scott..." interjected Edna, who hadn't paid any attention to Julia and George.  "Now have you still got that schedule George?  We must keep to the schedule"

"Yes dear...it's your turn to announce the speaker, Edna" he said, glancing at his clipboard.

"Right, best get to it!" she replied.  She then made a clicking noise with her lips, as if to indicate thirst.  "I wish there was a place to get a drink around here..."

She approached the podium and smiled at the crowd.  "I am very pleased to introduce our next speaker.  A brave young man who gave 4 years of his life to our fine military in defence of our nation against the Communist aggressor...Technical Sergeant Scott Urban, now Mr Scott Urban..."

Scott stood behind the podium and began his speech.  "It was during basic training back at Fort Hood, Texas, where I had a personal epiphany...It was on viewing a training film about syphilis..."

Whilst the speech went on and Edna watched on, enthralled, Julia took the time to approach George privately.

"George, I did see you in the bar last night...if there's anything you want to talk about, remember I am a doctor and what you tell me is in the strictest confidence."

George bit his bottom lip before responding but eventually he spoke.  "Yes...I was in the Blue Velvet last night but please don't tell Edna!  It's not her kind of establishment.  She went in there once but ended up having a furious row with that Suzy Kent woman.  I don't know what possessed me to go in there last night but...lately...things have been a little...erm...how can I describe this?  Well...it's like I have two lives at the moment...and it's juggling them with the knowledge that I have...I...I...well, it began as a simple thing, really, and it got out of control...and now I know things I shouldn't and I don't understand them either..."

Julia couldn't make head nor tail of what he was saying but it sounded like he was trying to confess to having an affair.  She tried to respond, tactfully.

"Is there...another woman, George?" she asked.

Again, he didn't immediately respond but looked down at the ground at his feet and then he did another thing she found strange:  He looked at hers and with a tilt of his head his gaze went slowly upwards, looking at Julia all the way.

"No...well, yes...well, kind of, but not in an infidelity way.  You know in the Bible there's the part about thinking about another woman is the same as knowing them?  I mean, you must have that in your version..."

"The Talmud?  Yes, I know the reference.  So is this about desiring another woman?"

"No...well, possibly, only...well, this other woman's more of an ideal than an actual person.  It's something within me...except it's not that simple as it's about what I...and she...witnessed..."

"But this person doesn't exist?" asked an increasingly confused Julia.

George shook his head and said "No, forget it...just don't tell Edna that you saw me in that bar!" before he walked away.

Everything after that was an anti-climax for both George and Julia but Edna was buoyed up by a crowd of nearly 30 people showing up and listening to the speeches; not all at the same time, however.  George went home to get changed for work but Edna wanted to continue her canvassing by going to see an old acquaintance:  Nancy Landgraab. 

Nancy was there to answer the door and she greeted Edna with a warm-ish smile.  "Edna, what a pleasant surprise, do come in."

"Thank you, Nancy...once again, my condolences on dear Geoffrey's untimely passing.  How are you coping?"

"Well enough; fortunately I'm kept busy with the business, the Landgraab Foundation and all our subsidiaries.  My father has returned to help run the company and Malcolm has been such a blessing in this troubling time.  Come through to the sitting room...would you like a drink?"

"Oh would I ever!" said Edna, smiling enthusiastically.

They walked through to the spacious lounge where Nancy poured Edna a whisky and soda.  "So..." began Nancy as she handed Edna the drink "...how have you and George been keeping?"

"We're fine...in fact doing quite well.  We had a League of Decency rally today and it was a qualified success if I do say so myself."

"Do have a seat, Edna.  I know my Geoffrey was always supportive of your cause."

"He was, Nancy, our biggest supporter.  I've also spoken with your father; a great man and he too was enthusiastic about what we do."

"Was he really?" replied Nancy, raising an eyebrow.  "Well, we've got some shared values, Edna.  You and your organisation are broadly aligned.  We do still have the same enemies..."

"Oh yes...pests.  As it happens I'm running for office; for city councillor."

"Yes, but there's still people that need bringing down, Edna.  I think that needs to be a priority." Nancy said, emphatically.

"Well, I can be more effective if I'm on the council"

"Yes, indeed.  And, frankly, the Fengs need pulling down a peg or two."

"So can I count on your support?" said Edna, pushing her point.

"Hmmm....yes, I think you can.  Anyway, I must be getting on Edna.  I'll see you to the door and hope to see you again." said Nancy.

The two women stood up and Nancy escorted Edna to the door.  Edna felt pleased to secure Landgraab support and she felt emboldened as she headed back down the valley to Bedrock Strait.  George wasn't home yet but Edna felt she deserved a victory drink.