The next week was a series of non-stop days. Each
filled from early morning to past sunset with chores
that needed to be compleated before the park and the
Lighthouse was opened to the public on June 22. Jane
had gotten to the point where she did not need the
alarm clock to wake up. She greeted each day with a
fresh enthusiasim that was so strange to her, yet it
felt as if it was her nature. She would start each
morning out on the deck of the cottage, looking out
at the great, swelling waters of the lake. Pete would
run his erands up and down the waterfront. Even the
dog had somehow been changed by this move. His had
spent the last year in her appartment either pacing
back & forth or sleeping most of the day away, there
was little fire in his eyes. Now he seemed like a dog
5 years younger. He was running each morning and
followed jane all day long around the property. Even
at night when he did lay down, he had a certain
peacefull look on his face Jane had never seen
before.
On her fifth day at the Lighthouse she had
compleated a long list of supplies she was going to
need to care for the property and to plant some
flowers around for the tourists. She started her day
on the deck with muffins baked last night and jam,
with hot black coffee. Next she grabbed the pack that
was lying by the door and called for Pete. He rounded
the Light tower and stood awaiting his mistresses
voice. "Come on Pete, we're going to town"
Wagging his tail endlessly he jumped up and
barked wildly as she shouldered the pack. They took a
leisurly walk up the path, through the gate, and to
the parking area. Once in the truck it took them 45
min. to reach the small town of Bass Harbor. jane was
amazed that such a small town really exsisted in the
America of the 90's. It was almost like something out
of a Hemmingway novel or a figment of Hollywood's
fertile imagination.
Bass Harbor was nothing more than a
collection of ten buildings all in various states of
dis-repair. There was the Muninciple Building, which
served as the entire local government. The aging red
brick building housed the Pubilc Works Dept., the
Police dept, the village clerks office, and the
community advisory board. Next to this was the aging
red brick firehall, which must have been built with
the same materials and by the same crew that built
the municiple building. Across the street was the
Harbor Cafe, a shabby dinner where the residents
would gather for coffee in the morning and beer when
the sun went down. Adjacent to the Cafe was the Pine
Dog saloon. These two buisnisess made up the better
part of the commercial district on main Street. Down
the street was the Paulet Brothers hardware store and
then around the corner was the Bass Market. The
market was one of those amazing stores found only in
small town america where one could find a few staple
goods, or the latest national enquirer, along with
getting a perscription filled at the drug counter, or
order a pair of booots from the catalog counter at
the back of the store.
As Jane drove around the corner and parked
in front of the Market, Pete sat straight up in the
seat. and let out a bark.
"OK you can come, but you Heel, and
stay low" Jane said patiently.
The dog if able to respond would have agreed
immediately. They both piled out of the truck and
headed for the market.
TO BE
CONTINUED.................
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