People get plum confused between people who believe they know everything and those people that really do know it all. I never got Miss Libby confused with the former.
Smart woman, Miss Libby
Old timers around here tell stories of Miss Libby. How she rarely blinked and could out-stare any animal or person in Whiz Bang. Told of her being kinda sullen and a whip smart reader at age three. Or standing like a statue intently listening to what nobody else could hear.
Lots of strange gossip stories about Libby told on rainy days in rockers by the fire pit.
But, truth be told, Miss Libby was a caring, beautiful soul, who was just really smart by book learning, common sense and old age wisdom.
When she died last year her cremated remains were placed in a wooden box made to look like a book set. Her ashes are kept on a shelf behind the librarian's desk.
Strange, I know, but all the villagers thought it would be proper. Her, liking books so much and all.
Miss Libby had wonderful humanity about her. But, she didn't pussyfoot around when asked a question. Answer would be delivered blunt. To the point. Personal. She either pin-pricked the ego, or blew a hole through it, depending on which side of the bed she got up on that morning.
Unless, of course, Miss Libby wanted to elaborate. Which was seldom.
Every Sunday evening Miss Libby would park her bones in a padded rocking chair by the community fire pit to take questions and explain things folks may have been wondering about after hearing it on the television or from our regional newspaper publisher.
By the way, our regional newspaper publisher cuts down good trees to put out a crappy Republican newspaper. Just say'n.
Once everyone got settled comfortably, Miss Libby would hum under her breath, until somebody got up the nerve to ask the first question. Lots of hem'n and haw'n for a few minutes and then the first question of the session:
"Ma'm, my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother died from breast cancer. What can I do?"
Miss Libby stared at the woman. Nodded. Then said, "Stop wearing a bra. Anthropologist Margaret Mead once noted that breast cancer was unknown among the pacific tribes. Tells you a great deal, don't it? Wear a breast sling, instead."
Then Miss Libby did one of those elaborations of hers and everyone in Whiz Bang would lean closer and listen to the old gal.
"Lots going on in this world. Big things and little things. Good things and bad things. Supposed to be that way. Life is like hiccups. Jerk here and there, always changing, forever flowing, just like the village stream. Nothing ever stays the same.
Oh, it may wander back around a bit, but that's an illusion. High desert mirage. Noth'n more.
I'm gonna explain why our President (Ronald Reagan) was wrong to have broken a labor union and hurt you when the reprobate did it.
Look at our village. Poor? Certainly. Our village ain't much of a go'n concern. Village isn't our hovels and shacks. It's us. All of us. Oldest to youngest. We watch over each other and that makes our village wealthy."
Libby sat back quiet for a bit, then leaning forward in her rocker, so as to elaborate some more.
"Nice knowing that our ancestors formed a Union of the people. Even applies today, it does. All citizens are one Union. That's why our Constitution begin's with, We the People.
"That be real important to know, remember and think about," as Libby sat back in the rocker and queried faces.
"People who do the same kinda job form Unions too. That way, they get treated better, 'cause government and corporations tend to forget about the People, being One.
Unions are the People's Castles. They remind government and corporations not to forget humanity."
Suddenly a hand and Libby sat back and invited the question.
It was Posie's.
"How did President Reagan hurt me? Ain't no Unions here in Whiz Bang?" then sitting back down quick like.
"Uh, huh," said Miss Libby. "You got hurt 'cause it used to be only the corporations were brazenly forgetting that humanity must be a pillar of a corporation. It's soul, more or less.
When Ronnie broke that Union, government stopped being the guardian of the People.
Old reprobate joined your government to the corporations. Government lost it's humanity.
You all got hurt. Hurt real bad. Hurt down to the bones."
Again, Libby sat back in the rocker and waited awhile. Then suddenly she leaned forward in the rocker and began to speak.
"You're the People. You're Americans. Nation is a Union of the People. Best think some on what should be done about this terrible thing the President did to you."
Another hand shot up in the air and Libby nodded to it.
"How, Miss Libby? How do we get our government back?"
A broad smile crossed Libby's lips. Then she said, "Unions are the People's Castles. Make them stronger and more plentiful.
Government will follow you again. You are the government. Remember?"