Chapter 258: Pros and Cons

The 8PM Theater Guild meeting got started right on time. Since we lived downtown, Eve and I had walked to the meeting. The first order of business was discussing finances, wasn't it always. Aster was in a unique position for the times. It wasn't broke. Most every other town in the state was dead broke, but not Aster. For one thing Aster had never tried to be all things to all people. The work force was small and they had never offered huge incentives to attract workers. Aster's management was dedicated to the old Christian work ethic. Modern socialistic creep, just never took hold in the semi rural community.

So that pretty much explained why the city had ten grand to give to the Aster Theater Guild. The theater guild was trying to decide how to spend the money. There were two proposals on the floor that night. The first was to purchase a new lighting system for the marque over the entrance to the theater. It was a digital billboard of some kind. The other was to recondition the projectors so that Aster could rent a series of classic Hollywood films.

There was discussion back and forth of course. They were about to close the discussion, so I felt compelled to speak. "I would like to say a word or two please," I said standing.

"The Chair recognizes Maxine Stone," the old lady with blue hair and a fancy outfit said.

"This is the first meeting I have even attended, and I haven't lived in Aster for many years. First of all let me compliment you on your restoration of the Palace Theater it was a dynamite job. Secondly, let me say that I look forward to attending the events you have planned.

The reason I rose to speak was about the money. First of all money sitting in a bank account has no real value, since the number of things it will buy changes daily. Such being the case, I think you are wise to use the money at this time. I think a digital billboard, though the ultimate in convenience and eye candy, would be a bit out of place on this building which you restored to it's depression era grandeur. I like the billboard with the letters applied by hand. I would expect that there is little expense involved with the maintenance of the billboard as it is now. Since most of the labor here is donated.

I very much am in favor of the reconditioning of the projectors. First of all people who can do that may soon be gone forever. The price for the work can only rise, so it will probably be considered to have been a bargain one day. However from a pure business sense it would seem to be a good investment. I can imagine that the Palace would make quite a draw as a grand classic and foreign film theater. As such it could easily appeal to the older customers, who would be very little trouble. A place for us old farts to go on a Saturday Night that didn't involved alcohol or bad food. I can imagine it even being a regional draw with the right promotions.

So the repair of the projectors would be a good business move in my opinion, not just a good use of donated funds. Thank you." I quickly sat down. It wasn't often that I gave my opinion like that, so I was curious to see how it was received.

A new line of discussion followed, it became about how to use the theater, not just how to improve it. I personally was thrilled to see the impetus move, I thought it was time to bring the building back to life, not must have it sitting around for tours of school children now and then.

Eve and I went into the lobby to drink the terrible coffee and eat the cardboard cookies. If there was ever a place that needed Helen's involvement, it was the Aster Theater Guild. Eve and I spoke to and shook hands with the Mayor, and the Police Chief. We also hobnobbed with some of those people, who would never have spoken to me before the TV show. The show was horribly lowbrow, but it was till on TV. Mostly I heard, 'My kids love your show." I'm not sure any adult would admit to ever having seen more than five minutes of it.

Eve actually steered me to meet a man and his wife. "Say hello to that couple over there," She demanded.

"Why?" I asked.

"Do it and then I will tell you why," she insisted.

"You know I liked you better before the last upgrade," I said it as I moved toward the couple in their late forties or early fifties. Just a few years older than me.

"Hello there, my friend here insists that I speak to you, but the reason why is a mystery," I said. "So hello, I'm Maxine Stone." I tried to embarrass Eve. Do you have any idea how hard it is to embarrass a robot. Eve just smiled at me.

"Ms Stone, of course we do know who you are. You are quite the celebrity." the man said taking my extended hand. "I Jamie Trugate, and this is my wife Ella."

"Very nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Trugate and I assure you the celebrity status does not extend far outside this room. And this is my friend Eve Edison," I said We all did our greeting things.

"I was most impressed by your point of view about the use of the city money. I think the idea for use of the Palace is an excellent one." Trugate said.

"Thank you, if there had been another option, say to throw a wild drunken orgy, I might have gone with that as well," I said.

"Then perhaps we should bring that to the floor for a vote," Mr Trugate suggested. His wife looked horrified.

"We should be going Maxine, I don't think the Aster Theater Guild is quite ready for you," Eve said with a grin.

"Since Eve is my social barometer, I suppose we are off. Before I leave please suggest to whoever organized this reception that they consider using Helen for the refreshments. This is just awful."

We we got outside Eve said, "Well that went really well. Don't you think?"