Mommy Was a Whore Ch. 07

A Post reporter had interviewed Gina extensively and she waited anxiously next morning for Nathan to fetch the morning newspaper. Grinning he held it up at the kitchen doorway. The huge heading across the front page screamed: 'We Say Let's Belatedly Honor Sergeant Tom'.

Gina screamed, jumping up and down in excitement and dropping her coffee mug that smashed on the tiles.

Under that were two photos.

One was of Sergeant Tom Palin taken in 1870 and recently unearthed by the researchers involved in making the documentary about him. The caption added, 'Filming of the documentary begins in Palin City today'.

An equally large photo of Gina was captioned, 'Bring Sergeant Tom in from the cold campaigner Miss Gina Lott. Miss Lott was recently appointed to the board of this newspaper and is a member of the five-person commission to produce a discussion blueprint on the future development of Palin City'. The lead story then detailed the work of Gina and her supporting team. Readers were then referred to the center-spread.

The two pages at the center of the newspaper were without advertising and devoted entirely to the controversy over the years about Sergeant Tom Palin's Folly. The right-hand page was dominated by a picture of the monument about to be erected in 1929 as a memorial to him. The council's director of engineering explained the purpose of the buildings being setback at the corners of that building was to facilitate growth in traffic usage and had been a far-sighted action. "It also, it must be said, the setbacks facilitated the placement of a large central structure at that major intersection."

The mayor was asked if he would support the erection of a memorial to Sergeant Tom there.

"Support the discussion of such a proposal yes," said the mayor. "I know Miss Lott and imagine we will be pressured into considering such a proposal. She will undoubtedly force the issue when she is fully prepared."

The chairman of the future development commission said, "Miss Lott, who has been appointed to the commission, has the type of mind and vision that will take her far beyond the issue of a monument. For example, she had already suggested to me that the commission must look at ensuring the city's new council-owned events center is placed optimally for the greater good of citizens and not where if is convenient for the council to have it located. She also believes the non-passenger railway services should be removed from the city center out to the industrial center and a direct fast light-rail service should be constructed from the city to the airport to reduce traffic congestion. Finally she wants discussion on changing the name of Baker Reserve under the City Bridge back to the Soldier's Reserve. The reserve originally was the town of Palin's military parade ground. The name was changed to Baker Reserve to mark the retirement of Gerald Baker, Mayor of this city from 1932 to 1939. Miss Lott argues this city ought to respect its history and to a point I would agree with her. Miss Lott will be a good foil for we older commissioners."

The Post reporter asked Judge McLennan. "What is you view on formal confirmation of Sergeant Palin as founder of Palin City?"

"I always accepted he was the founder and that folly reference was just a silly diversion likely to arise from bored men stuck in a camp and losing their direction. But officially I say give me the facts and I'll reply as a court judge would be expected to reply. I need the facts."

"Oh god, she accepts Sergeant Palin was our city's founder."

Nathan hugged Gina. "Yes, the clever woman. She's made that clear and then protected her butt by adding a rider."

"Hey, look at this boxed story...wow!" Nathan said.

The article reported Mrs Zoë Ross, president of the Palin Founders' Society stated: "On new evidence presented to us by Miss Lott I would be surprised if the society membership was not 100% behind Sergeant Thomas Palin being formerly acknowledged as founder and a monument be erected to our city's founder. I would suspect that the majority of our members have long accepted he was the founder, being too wise to be diverted by that stupid tag of Palin's Folly, as it had nothing to do with the founding. Incredibly though, we have allowed the issue to drag on and are just as guilty as our predecessors. It has taken just one person named Gina Lott to forcibly raise this issue and expose the guilt of us all. Gina through her mother's side is connected right back to the widow Sarah Youngerman and her baby Silas. I commend this newspaper for supporting Gina and her small team and know through talking to Gina that a memorial will be erected come hell and high-water."

Gina gulped, "I cannot believe this. Here we have three of our city's most influential citizens, Tubby. Lucy and Zoë backing our project."

"That's why you went to them, wasn't it?"

"Yes, but I did not expect them to stick their necks out like this."

"Why would they?" You and your helpers are doing the legwork to find backup evidence but I believe what will win the day is what Mrs Ross touched on, and it's just one word, 'Guilt'.

Gina stared at him and then, "I think you are so right. How did I miss that?"

"You didn't. I've heard you mention it more than once. It's just you failed to elevate it in importance."

Gina had a busy time that morning, meeting an architect and a structural engineer and along with one of the council's building inspectors they were briefed by Gina over coffee and then toured the Gaynor Building basement, ground floor and then all other public areas and then the roof. They returned to the coffee house and this time looked thoroughly at the original plans the building inspector had produced earlier. After general discussion he left, taking the plans with him but stating copies were available from his office.

Engineer Darren Stokes said, "I didn't say this when Donald was here because he might report back to his bosses and they represent the potential seller. My view is the setback would be accomplished with ease and minimal additional strengthening required. You see the structure gets its strength through its central core, very advanced for a building of its day. You are very fortunate."

"I agree with Darren," said architect Chloe Childs. "While the outer walls do take a loading it's nothing like the loading absorbed by the core. Would you run a steel or concrete beam under the four floors above the setback?"

Darren said he'd have to do the calculations but as the upper structure was steel he would guess a heavy street beam would be more than adequate.

"What would take the upper weight?" Gina asked, having no idea.

Darren sketched the first level floor plan on a paper napkin from under his coffee cup, emphasized the two boundary walls permitted to remain intact as they stood against adjoining walls not required to be setback. He then drew in the beam to connect to the street ends of those walls."

He said he'd have to look at it very carefully as the span was rather longer than he'd prefer.

"Excuse me for my ignorance," Gina said," but couldn't you erect a pier thingy on the footpath?"

"And have pedestrians, probably talking females, crash into it?" Chloe smiled.

"Well, what about applying to build a new entrance, extending it out say three feet, and resting mid-beam on top of that structure."

"I've already considered that but the council would never allow it. Even at two feet, which would minimize impedance of pedestrian traffic, we could then curve the concrete entrance structure out to catch the beam and transfer some of the weight."

Chloe said, "Yes, in that case a concrete beam would be preferable as it would tie in aesthetically if the formwork imprinted an integrated textural look."

"Agreed," Darren nodded.

"Well you two consult and produce the design for me to take to the council to win acceptance. No problem."

"You don't know our council officials," Darren said sourly.

"Darren, the council regards its purchase of this building as a White Elephant. If passing on the White Elephant to me will release into council coffers a big amount of money, what is the decision likely to be if I say unless this entrance design for the setback is approved as we want it I won't purchase the building?"

Darren grinned and Chloe said she'd have no problem upgrading the building, inside and out, without it costing an obscene amount of money. "If you wish to save money don't have a curving glass curtain over the balcony over there. If fact don't have a balcony."

"Chloe, sometimes it is necessary to do something for your community. I desire to own this building to ultimately generate satisfactory profit. But this balcony is something of an institution and I wish to retain it and glamorize it at unnecessary cost to add an aesthetically pleasing feature to our city."

"Gina, you are a gem," said the older woman. "I am so glad you returned to our city. I'd like to offer my no-fees service in connection with the monument you intend having placed down below."

"Chloe, really my talk is bluff. I have to motivate people."

"You'll have that monument placed down there Gina. You are on a roll and nothing will stop you."

"I agree and offer my voluntary structural engineering services," Darren said. "This city needs more people like you. Conservatism has ruled for far too long. I know Lucy McLennan very well and read between the lines of what she was quoted as saying in this morning's newspaper. She's not as conservative as you may think. You'll be used to express some of her evolutionary thoughts."

Gina walked the half-mile home for exercise. Salty stopped and had a brief chat but left without offering her a ride. Gina already knew Salty had a brain and would know that if she'd wanted to be transported home she would have called him. So, people thought she was on a roll. Well she had worked for it and the end of the Sergeant Tom campaign appeared to have entered the final lap. She couldn't see it failing, not now.

To be Continued...