The Oddities of Mr. Shaffer

Chapter 5: The Talk That Never Ended...

I was asked by Samuel to meet at Baxby's Diner, this was the "private place" he was talking about.  It seemed that he still didn't get everything off his chest a few days earlier.

It was June 18, 1979, 5 years, 11 months, and 5 days since I had thought of this place.

It was around 8:45 p.m.  There was a thunderstorm approaching, so I got to the Diner a little early so I wouldn't get too wet.  It was already starting to drizzle outside.  I ordered what I usually got; a coffee with 4 sugars and 5 creams, my favorite.  Another few minutes had passed by and there was still no sign of Samuel.  I was about to get up and grab a payphone to see if he had left the house when all of a sudden he decides to show up.  He poured into the front entrance of the diner soak and wet.  Putting his hat on the hat stand he casually walked over to the booth I was at.

"Good afternoon sir.  Glad you could make it."

"Yeah.  So what is it you wanted to talk more about?"

Sitting down across from me, he signaled to the waiter.

"I'll have what he is having." Said Samuel, brushing the rain droplets from off himself.

"I wanted to talk more about the conversation we had about 3 days back.  You remember right?"

"All I remember from that conversation was something about a lot of restrictions, which I stated that I absolutely do not like."

Sighing, Samuel reached deep into his coat pocket to reveal rolled up documents.  I grabbed them and examined the papers.  Headed a the top was The Time For Change: The New Conjunction.

"What is this Sam?"

"It's a very in dept document of papers that I have been working on all night, and I would rather much you read it."

Skiming through the sheets I took in all of the important details.

"So according to these documents, you want to create a co-ownership of the city?  With me?"

"Do you like the idea?  I figured you would."

"Acuatly, I don't.  I intended to run the city with only one appointed person; me.  I mean don't get me wrong Sam, you're a good secretary and problem solver, but when I first envisioned this city I didn't have plans on sharing it.  I'm open to new ideas from you but, so many restrictions on things, isn't that kind of harsh?  An insult to the people of Argo?"

Samuel then showed a face of annoyance.

"Things in this city will get out of hand if some things aren't changed.  Just like the murder of John Patrice."

"That was the first murder that has happened in the city, Sam."

"Yes, but this city has only been up for a few months.  I expected years before there was a 'mishap' such as that to happen here in Argo."

"I think you are blowing things out of proportion Sam."

"I think you're not looking at the big picture.  Suppose something like this happens again, but with a larger death toll.  Suppose not one, but  10 or 20 people die from something that could have been extinguished or avoided.  That's why there should be restrictions.  Societies like America, or Britain, or any society for that matter, had to have restrictions to thrive.  And I'm not talking about petty restrictions like raising taxes higher or, raising the bar on food and water.  No I want to do something greater.  I'm talking about segregating the masses, holding everyone on different caste levels, watching the population with watchful eyes at all times...."

"So what you want is to rule with an iron fist.  You want to be a dictator."

"If that's what it takes to make a perfect society shine, then yes that's what I want."

At that moment, I didn't know who Samuel was anymore.  All of these things just spilling out on me from the guy I appointed to be my right hand man was just, unbearable.  I expected great things out of Sam, but it seemed that I expected too much.  

"I will not stand by and just let you try to forsaken this city with your harsh plans." I said, looking him into the eyes.

Chuckling loudly, Samuel slammed his hands on to the table.

"See that is your problem Mayor, you're so one minded that you can't even see the great potential that I behold!  I'm trying to help you and all you're doing is just shunning my generosity."

Right about then, everyone in the diner turned to look at me and Sam.  The sad thing was is that Sam didn't care if he made a scene, all he wanted was to be heard.

"All I hear coming out of your mouth Sam is ignorance.  If you want to perpetuate a lost cause such as this, then go right ahead.  All your doing is wasting your own breathe."

Getting up in a fit of anger, Sam stormed for the door.  Grabbing his hat and opening up the door with his foot, he spun around in a quick motion.

"Have it your way Shaffer, but we will see what the City Board has to say about my 'Lost Cause'.  You'll see!  You'll all see!!"

Leaving out the diner, Samuel left a lot of people stunned.  Some came up to ask me if I was okay.  I promptly brushed them off, grabbed my wool coat and walked towards the door.  I was stopped short by one of the waitresses.

"Uhm... excuse me sir, but, you didn't pay."

Grabbing a handful of bills out of my pocket, I carefully place them into the waiter girls hand.

"Here, keep the change....."