123. The Meeting

The meeting of the Brothers took place that night after supper. Before I could call everyone to order and name the topic, a discussion started on whether we should continue in the “the business.” Julio was present, but remained quiet. Harpo spoke against “our project” in his stentorian tones. Cat was for it, but it seemed to me he was simply helping Julio, who he had befriended.

When everyone had their say, I spoke.

“Look, I don’t like this arrangement with Uncle Sam either. I am not sure how we will manage financially in the future and I’m not sure we’ll take … uh, guests of this sort. We have a real problem of survival here and I need your prayers. I’m the one saddled with the responsibility of making the decision. I won’t make it without carefully weighing all of your opinions.”

“But I have to tell you of a telephone call I made this afternoon,” I continued. I detailed my conversation of two hours before with St. Anne.  When I finished, there was a stunned silence in the room. Finally, Headless spoke up.

“Jesse, I can’t believe you’ve brought us to this point with our Order!” he said. “You’ve managed to get us to where we’ll be thrown out!”

“Wait a minute …” interjected Bouncer.

“I can’t believe this,” said Cat.

“Gentlemen!” boomed Harpo as he rose to his feet. The room settled down and the eldest brother continued.

“We have been dealing for a long time with Fermoy and their demands for money,” he said. “It is unfair to blame Jesse for the problem, especially as he continues an old battle for our protection. You may remember that the man sent from Ireland to do Saint Anne’s bidding and close us down … Agnes … had no stomach for the task assigned to him. He quite simply got up and left. It is not Jesse who will be at fault if we leave the order of the Ardent Brothers. It is the Ardent Brothers who will be responsible. Our “superiors” in Ireland may be our brothers on the strength of our vows, but they are also a group of fools who cannot or will not learn to manage money. They have in the past decade closed three Chapter Houses throughout the world and we are to be next for the benefit of their cash position.   They will prevail, in my estimation.  It is time for us to take a sober look at our position and make plans to care for ourselves.  We must become independent to do so.  I say we should pack up and leave!”

“And go where?” asked Bouncer.

“God will provide,” answered Harpo and he sat down.

No one believed him.