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There are a few boos, and I join in, feeling a sudden anger flare up within me. Fletcher’s Pond is one of the few natural beauties left in this town. It’s where I used to go fishing with my dad when I was a kid. It’s where I had that kiss with Erin — not that I should be counting that as a reason to save the land.
“A lot of us have grown up by that pond,” Amanda says. “But there’s more to it than just losing a prime fishing spot. The company that’s buying it has plans to turn it into a shopping mall.”
There are more boos and some murmurs of dissent, but I can see the light in some people’s eyes as they imagine the possibilities. I find myself wondering what Erin’s opinion on this matter would be. If she did still live here, would she be for the development or against it?
Amanda goes on to detail the potential harm that could come to the local ecosystem and the wildlife that calls the pond home. She ends her speech with a call to action, urging us to form a committee and go from there.
“First things first,” she says, “we need to assign someone to lead the committee.”
“I nominate Josh Humphries,” Sam shouts out.
I turn to him, my eyes nearly bugging out of my head. “Excuse me? What?”
He nods. “You’re the man for the job.”
“Yeah, he is,” Ed, one of my neighbors to the west, says. “Josh’s family has been here for generations.”
More people chime in, but I just shake my head.
I’m the last person for this job. Not only am I busy, I don’t want to do it. Yes, I want to save Fletcher’s Pond, but I didn’t think I would be leading the charge.
Amanda waves me up to the small stage, and before I know it, I’m standing up in front of the crowd, feeling both honored and overwhelmed.
“Thank you, everyone,” I say, my voice shaking a bit. “But—”
“You’ll need to start with petitions,” Amanda interrupts. “With enough petitions, we can block the town’s sale. Gather a team to go out and get these signatures, and set a goal for a number.”
I shake my head. “I really—”
The back door opens, and Erin enters. She’s wearing a white dress, her hair hanging in a braid, and everything in the room goes fuzzy.
I can’t think. My tongue is numb.
I read her lips as she asks a woman what she missed then quickly glances at me. I catch the woman saying something about knocking on doors, and Erin nods and pulls a pen from her purse.
Is she about to join the team? Just like that?
My head spins, and I feel unsteady on my feet. Maybe I haven’t thought this through yet. Yes, I’m busy, but I can make timefor something as important as leading a team to save Fletcher’s Pond.
I nod at Amanda. “Let’s put a sign-up sheet up. Everyone who can join the team, put your name down.”
I glance at Erin, but she looks away from me. Amanda is already taping a sheet of paper to a table, and people gather around to write their names down.
Sam claps me on the back. “Congrats.”
I scoff. “Thanks to you.”
He grins wickedly. “I’m not wrong. This job was made for you.”
Why? Because I can’t stand this town? Because most days I’m feeling so misanthropic I can’t even say hello to anyone?
But as I watch Erin sign her name on the sheet, I remember that I do care about this pond, and perhaps this is a chance to make a positive impact on the community.
As the meeting ends, people start to filter out of the room, chatting and laughing, and I feel a sense of purpose for the first time in a long time. I walk up to Erin, who is slinging her purse over her shoulder, and try to say something witty or charming, but instead, I just blurt out, “Thanks for joining the team.”
She looks up at me, her eyes meeting mine for a moment before she smiles and nods. “Of course. I care about this place, too.”
I feel a rush of gratitude and something else, something that makes my heart skip a beat. Maybe Sam was right after all — maybe I am the man for the job.
