Chapter 57

I hadn’t set an alarm but it is unlikely that a feeble electronic buzz would have made much of an impression on this particular morning. I awoke to an older and more demanding call from an impatient bladder. The rest of my body unanimously voted for a quick return to bed, as soon as that one disruptive organ was properly mollified. I reluctantly vetoed. I was running out of time, and lying in bed would bring me no closer to a decision. Instead I adjourned to the shower.

When I was dressed, it was still quite early, but before heading over to Hazel’s, I wanted to call Harold Barney before he got out in the field.

“Good morning, Elizabeth,” he cheerfully greeted me in his booming baritone. “Nice to hear from you. Are you calling me to give me your decision?”

“No, not yet, Harold. But I do want to make an appointment to talk. We have never really discussed our plans and goals, to see if we’re on the same page.”

“I couldn’t agree more; the sooner the better. When can you come? This morning?”

“This morning would be perfect. I was on my way to Hazel’s for breakfast. I can come any time after that.”

“Better yet, my wife hasn’t started cooking breakfast yet. We’ll wait for you, and you can join us here.”

I made the appropriate polite protests, but he insisted, and I was easily persuaded. Happily, as it turned out, as I had a delightful time, finally getting to know Harold and meeting his charming wife. Both of them proved to be well-read and conversant on a wide range of topics not generally considered essential to farming the high plains.

Afterwards the two of us retreated to a combination sunroom and greenhouse that offered a sweeping view of the countryside.

“I built this room for the view and to indulge in cultivating a few favorite plants that don’t care for our rugged climate,” Barney explained. You’ll recognize one of them; it’s very common in your part of the world.”

“I did wonder if those were azaleas.”

“Correct. I particularly love azaleas, since in this room, they bloom in the winter months when everything outside is so lifeless. I have many more, but the larger ones I put outside in the summer. They do quite well, as long as they are in pots with soil prepared for them. They like a very acid soil, and here it’s extremely alkaline. When all those pots are brought in, it’s practically a jungle in here, but I find it’s a wonderful antidote for the winter blues.”

“I would love to see that. Perhaps it would also ward off homesickness.”

“You will always be welcome ... provided you are still with us. And that is what we’re here to discuss, I’m sure. Not my inclination for exotic plants.”

“Yes, though somewhat indirectly. While in Charleston, I witnessed a whole new vision of education, a huge opportunity that could be particularly important to isolated rural schools. It would give our students equal access to resources that were impossible to get to before. But it will require some major changes, as well as the support of the board and the community.”

“Am I correct in assuming that we are discussing the WorldWideWeb?” Barney asked nonchalantly.

I was speechless. I had learned to respect Barney from his adroit handling of the problem with Ernest. But I wasn’t prepared for this. I knew that very few members of the general public were aware of this embryonic technology; it hadn’t really appeared on the radar, even in the popular press. I’d never heard of it until ten days ago. I’m afraid I just stood there gawking at him.

Harold chucked. “You can close your mouth now. Elizabeth. Even an old Colorado farmer can keep current with technology, if he makes the effort, and I do.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply...”

“That I’m not just a good ol’ boy. No offense taken. I try to keep a low profile by not advertising otherwise. I have an engineering degree from the Colorado School of Mines and did a hitch with the navy, specializing in electronics. I still keep my hand in a bit. I have a decent personal computer upstairs and do a little programming. I keep up with electronics and educational journals, so the evolution of the old military ARPANET into the civilian form is something I have watched with fascination.”

“It sounds like you are way ahead of me,” I acknowledged. “Probably what I was about to tell you is yesterday’s news.”

“Not if you have news about people in education who are planning to put it to classroom use. Please tell me what you saw and learned in Charleston.”

Barney sat quietly, giving me his undivided attention, while I described the program I had seen and what I had learned. I ended with my opinion that this was going to be very important in a few years.