by Eric Douglas
*****
“Mrs. Charles,” Glenn Downing, the organizer of the artificial reef project, began. “Tomorrow will be a glorious day. They’ll take the Beauregard out to its place and then everything will be ready. We’re going to have bands, government officials, media. It’ll be amazing. We’ll assemble all the people on the dock for speeches and presentations and then go out for the actual sinking. I can’t believe the day has finally arrived. We’re going to pull this off, and my career will take off. I already have interviews scheduled with newspapers and magazines from all over the state and country.”
“That all sounds great, Mr. Downing,” Mrs. Charles agreed, not really caring about what Downing planned. She moved to the islands 50 years ago. She had seen climbers and schemers come and go. She had seen celebrities and politicians. This was just one more day of big shots, and then hopefully she could return to her little oceanfront home and relax. She liked to work in a little garden by her one-bedroom cottage and swim in the ocean daily.
“I just can’t wait until it all gets started. After we sink the Beauregard, I’ll be in demand all over the country. I’ve always wanted to go to California and I’ve already heard they want someone to come there and put together another artificial reef project. This is my big break,” Downing continued.
“Yes, sir. If there isn’t anything else for today, though, I need to be leaving. I have plans this evening,” Mrs. Charles said.
“What? Oh, yes, of course, Mrs. Charles,” Downing responded when she shook him from his daydreaming. “I’ll lock up shortly. Have a good evening and I’ll see you in the morning. Tomorrow will be a busy day for me.”