A Pirate and a Gentleman

See Stede Bribe, Marinate, and Use More Oomph

Construction is well underway when Stede knocks on the trailer door, “Hello. May I please speak to your boss?”

“Mr. Bonnet.” a voice from behind him greets him, making Stede turn. “Nice to see you again.”

Stede’s only startled for a moment before he starts with a pleasantry, “Oh, um, just Stede, please. May I trouble you for a moment?”

Ed chuckles, then sticks his pen in his shirt pocket, “Sure, why not?”, then gestures for Stede to follow, “Come on in.“, then sits at the table with all the blueprints.

Stede attempts to hand over the tea, but Ed has something else on his mind, “I take it you spoke with the deputy prime minister?”

Stede’s on;y thrown for a moment before he’s back to smiling and nodding, “As a matter of fact, I did.”, and isn’t even phased when Ed laughs, instead continues, “She even told me about the adjustment meeting, and suggested that’s where I should take up my case.”

Ed appears to be agreeable with this, and tells Stede as much, “I think you should.”

Stede sighs, “But I don’t think I need to tell you how utterly ridiculous those things can be. The city deserves better. What do you think?”

Well apparently Ed’s thoughts are a private matter, as with one clear of the throat, his workers get up and leave the two of them by themselves.

“Why don’t you be honest with me, Mr. Bonnet? This isn’t about the dam at all, is it? This is all about me ruining your ridiculously expensive view with an overflow pool.” As soon as he says it, Ed checks himself, “I promise it’s nothing personal. That’s just how I’d react if it were me and my house.”

Stede's more than ready to refute him, “Oh trust me, if a spectacular view was all that mattered to me, this wouldn’t even be a second thought. All you need to do is take one look at me to know I am not one to get involved in government matters. But Barbados is my home. The people in it took care of me when my family disowned me because I divorced my wife and gave her full custody of my children. This city would never prevail without them. SO many of them are about to lose their livelihoods and jobs, possibly even where they live. What kind of thanks would that be if I didn’t stand up for them? And all of that is why I’m here to appeal to you now.”

Ed apparently has to be the realist in this situation, “I understand how hard it has to be to watch the only home you’ve known change without you. But that doesn’t automatically make all those changes bad.”

Stede argues, “But this one would be!”, stands up and starts pacing as he keeps talking.

“The beach…” he stops to catch his breath, then starts again, to Ed’s amusement, “The beach is the biggest attraction for tourists to come to Barbados. You can’t just expect there to be no difference because you kept throwing money at it.”

But seeing Ed is clearly still not convinced, Stede changes tactics, “I know! How would you like an unofficial tour? None of the scenic route, the real stuff.”

Ed sounds like he might be intrigued, but still has to ask, “And after that?”

“And then I don’t see how you wouldn’t come to the same conclusion of how damaging the dam will be so you can be on my side at the adjustment meeting, and we can make our case together.”

“I told you, I’m just overseeing the whole thing. I can’t be a spokesperson for the whole company.” Ed informs Stede regrettably. “And my bosses—”

“Would never listen to me when they can hear it straight from you.” Stede finishes for him.

“Wouldn’t even bother listening to either one of us when money is right there screaming in their ears. ” Ed corrects.