The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1947-04-11
AShort Story
THE SILVER LUNCHEON
By John Okada

Miss zenobia Quigley, teacher OF
reading, writing. arithmetic. histo-
ry. geography. science. drama, ham
dlcraft and physical education from
the first through the eighth grades
inclusive and the unquestioned au-
thority on pedagogical methods in
Dream County. adjusted her spec
tacles with a flourish OF her skinny
arm and confronted the school
board of the Dream County Insti-
tuition of General Education. Her
deep-sst eyes twinkled like baby
diamonds in her glowing face. her
bony fingers played constantly with
the polished agate which hung from
her neck by means of an enormous
gold chain. and she suffered hag-
gishly when she finally attempted
10 speak zcnobia Quigley was IN a
high state of excited agitation.
The dignified members of the
school board of the Dream Coun-
ty Institution of General Education
waited patiently. jim Jones, presi-
dent of the bank and also of the
school board. chewed on his enor-
nous cigar and thought about the
new office which he was going to
build as soon as the government
would release the necessary ma
terials. Elias Brown, the leading
farmer of the county, rolled the
wad of tobacco expcrtly within his
supple cheeks and eyed the brass
| spitoon in the corner of the one
room schoolhouse with the calcula-
ting eyes of an expert narksman.
| Fat Horatio White. who lived hand
somely on no visible means of in
come and who had acquired seat
on the board by equally inexplicable
methods, had propped his foot on
his knee and loboriously sharpening
his knife on the sole of his shoe No
one spoke a word, not SO much out
OF respect for Miss Quigley who
was frantically attempting to COM
pose herself sufficiently to say what
she obviously could not or did not
wish to conceal, but simply because
he had nothing to say. The edu-
ucation of the children of Dream
County had been in the capable
hands of Miss Quigley fer forty-fiv
years and she was only one who
ever found reason to call the board
together for the infrequent meet
ings, but when she whistled, the
members came and listened to what
ever she found necessary to tel
them.
The three continued to wait,
the only sound audible in the still
room being the puff puff" of the
cigar, the "squish squish" of tie
tobacco and the zip zip" of steel
whipping across leather. Puff
squish- zip-puff, puff squish-zip-
puff. -squish- zip CLANG.r
Elias Brown had struck the tar
get. He looked at the Others for
approval, but no one moved.
Gentlemen" said Miss Quigle,
at long last, ''Jhave called this meet
ing today to make an announcement
of the utmost Importance
"Puff-squiSh- zip-puff."
Gentlemen, / trust that all
of you are listening to what have
to say, because II is of the greatest
concern to you"
Puff -squish -zip-puff.
Gentlemen" began Miss Quigle.
FLOR the third time, the silver lunch
box is about to be presented to on
of our students"
Jones bit his cigar in half,
Brown swallowed his tobacco. and
White sliced hunk of leather
from his shoe. In unison they eX-
claimed unbelieving, "The silver
lunchbox?"
Eyes, in two more weeks, Kipp.
Smith will have maintained a per
feet attendance for eight years"
But, he might have an accident,
said Jones.
HE might play hooky," sale
Brown.
HE might get SICK" said
White
"True enough" eplied Miss Quig
ley, land that is exactly why
asked you gentlemen to meet today
Ever since Paul Green established
a near perfect record of seven lunch
: boxes out of a possible eight SOM
thirty years ago, no student ha
come close to it until now, and
feel that with success so startlingl,
near, it would not be unfair If tn
school board were to see that spe
cial precautions were taken to assure
the attendance of Kippy Smitf
during the remaining two weeks
by all means" said Jones.
" agree" said Brown.
Ditto" said White.
"Now, here's what 1 propose"
began Miss Quigley.
Jones. Brown and White pulled
their chairs close around the table
Miss Quigley continued, Begin
| ming tomorrow morning, each of u
will take turns escorting Kipp.
Smith to school"