Wike Rideout walked into Dove's Pub.

"Can ise 'ave a beer, Lindsay?"

Lindsay opened a beer and slid it along the bar to Wike.

"Ise start a tab fer you, Wike."

Wike nodded and walked to a table where his father was sitting with several other men.

As was typical for a Saturday night at 8 o'clock, the Pub was filled with mostly men. The women of the village would usually show up between 9 and 10 and then the jukebox would be in full swing and Tuckamore Bay would have its usual Saturday night Dance at Dove's celebration.

Wike slumped in a chair next to his father.

"Youse looks like shit, me son," Clayton laughed.

"Did dey actually make youse do some work fer a change."

Wike Rideout

"Busy as all shit at da fish plant, Dad. Jest asks Jr. dere."

Jr. Tucker spoke up.

"Wese got at least a couple months work on a longliner dey jest brought in. Dere will bes lots of overtime as well. Probably 'till da end of September."

Jr. Tucker

"Whats about da stuff youse s'pose to bes weldin' fer day Bay and 'specially fer Bill?"

"Dats jest gonna 'ave to wait, Dad. Wes gotta do our jobs first. dat other stuff bes jest on da side."

Clayton turned to his son.

"What's bes youse mean, on da side. Youse were hired to do a job and now youse tellin' me dat youse not gonna do it?"

Clayton Rideout

"Dad, wese only be gettin' a few days off over da next few months."

Clayton shook his head.

"Youse were at da meetin' a couple week ago. Did youse not 'ear a word dat Bill and Matty said?"

Wike took a mouthful of beer.

"Course Ise 'eard. Wes all 'eard, but wes ain't seen anyting 'appening 'ere. Wese 'aven't seen Bill do anyting since and now, 'e and Matty 'ave gone somewhere."

"So dey nots be allowed to go on vacation?"

Wike leaned on the table.

"It bes okay fer Bill and Matty. Dey 'ave da money to do what dey like. Dey could fuck off out of 'ere at anytime and leave us 'igh and dry."

Henry Tucker walked to the table.

"Bill made a promise to da Bay."

"Talk bes jest dat, 'enry. Its jest bes talk."

"Does youse tink dat stuff like dis jest 'happens, Wike?"

Henry pulled up a chair and sat by Wike.

"It takes time, me son. Wese talkin' 'bout a lot of money and a lot of organization."

Wike was shaking his head.

"Jr. and I 'as been talkin'. And so 'ave a lot of da other younger ones 'ere in da Bay. Wes can't be takin' da chance. What ifin Bill bails on us."

Henry shook his head.

"Ifin 'e were 'ere right now, Ise wouldn't bes blaimin' 'im one bit ifin he did fuck off. All dis negative shit."

Jr. smirked.

Uncle 'enry, fer fuck sakes. Ise 'eard youse and Dad talkin'. Youse all feels da same way dat most of us does."

"Dat bes true, 'enry," Harry yelled from a couple tables away.

"Its all bes big talk from da young Bill, but wese ain't seen anyting yet, 'cept fer a few beer tabs and a couple meals.

Ise don't see anyting real diff'rent 'appenin'."

Henry took a deep breath and looked around at the men. All attention was on the conversation.

"Ise know dat dere ain't been anyting dat 'as 'appened yet, but in time."

"Wese don't 'ave time, 'enry. Jr. and I and some of da others 'as to sign up fer all dat overtime dat is open at da fish plant.

It means a lots of extra money fer us."

There was a chorus of agreement from many of the younger men in the Pub.

Carl Pike spoke up.

"Da boys dere bes right, 'enry. Ise know dat Ise be signin' up fer da extra overtime on Monday."

Carl Pike

He took a drink of beer.

"Ise likes Bill and Ise knows that he means well, but I can't be livin' on what ifs. If Ise quits me job in St. Anthony then what.

I sits around 'ere and twiddles me thumbs and worries meself sick about money."

He shook his head.

"Sorry, can't be doin' dat. Ise has a family to feed and Ise can't ask Lindsay dere to supports us."

He looked around the Pub.

"None of us can be affording that."

Another chorus of agreements.

Clayton Rideout stood up.

"Okay. Enuf of da squabblin' and whinin'. Youse young fellers sound like a bunch of babies."

Wike laughed.

"Youse not much better, old man. Ise 'eard youse bitchin and complainin' about Bill. Ise 'eard youse doubting what he be saying."

Clayton nodded.

"Dat be right me son."

He leaned down near Wike.

"Youse calls me old man again and Ise be puttin' youse 'cross my knees and whippin' youse butt."

Wike simply nodded. He knew his father was as strong as a horse and had never lost a fight in his life.

Clayton stood up again and finished his beer.

"Now. Ise not bes Bill's biggest fan. Dat bes true. Ise watched dis place go down'ill fer a few year now and dere don't look like no end in sight."

"Den youse agrees with da rest of us, Clayton?"

Clayton shook his head.

"Not totally, 'arry. Ise still bes a bit wary 'bout what Bill says, but Ise no reason not to believe 'im. 

'e 'ain't done anyting, dat Ise knows of, dat would make me tink 'e bes a liar or not a man of 'is word. And wese could be 'ere all night lookin' fer da negative in all of this and dat 'as been da way wese been goin' fer a while now, but youse knows what."

He paused and looked around the Pub, for dramatic effect.

"Ise tinks wes owes Bill da benefit of da doubt."

"And just what does dat mean, Clayt?" Carl wondered.

"Dat means wes waits 'till 'e comes back and den we makes decisions.

After wes talks to 'im."

Jr. Tucker shook his head.

"Sorry Clayton. Unless Bill bes comin' back before Monday, Ise not be waitin'.

Wese have to put our names in on Monday or else wes misses out on da overtime. Ise know fer one, Ise not bes waitin'."

Clayton looked at Harry Sr.

"Youse gonna let yer son do dat?"

Harry laughed.

"'e bes a man, Clayt and 'e bes allowed to make 'is own decisions."

"Thanks Dad."

"And den again, 'e also bes allowed to make 'is own mistakes," Harry added.

"Youse knows what, Clayt? Ise tinks wese jest 'as to let everyone make dere own decision, based on what der families need. Da summer almost bes over and by da time dat da winter is over, dere won't be much time left to save dis place.

Ise tinks da younger people 'ave to do what dey 'as to do, to ensure dere families does da best dey can. And ifin dey tinks dat means leavin' da Bay, den dat bes what dey 'ave to do."

Clayton shook his head.

"Is dat bes 'ow da rest of youse tinks?"

The silence in the Pub was the answer.

Clayton sat down.

"Den dere bes nothin' left to say."

Henry finished his beer and stood up.

"Ise bes talkin' to Bill, as soon as 'e and Matty comes back."

"And what is youse gonna say?" Wike wondered aloud.

Henry walked to the bar and threw a twenty dollar bill on the bar.

He turned and faced those gathered.

"Ise gonna tell 'im to go 'ome. At least to go and find a new 'ome, cause da one dat 'e jest found is gonna bes jest a memory."

Henry started for the door, but stopped and turned again.

"Ise always been proud as a peacock to be a part of Tuckamore Bay. Ise always puffed out me chest, when peoples asked me where I was from.

Tuckamore Bay, I would say. Ise from da greatest little place in da world and Ise proud as fuck dat Ise is."

Henry smiled sadly.

"Ise not gonna bes puffin' me chest out no more. Ise almost ashamed to be a Bayman. Ise never thot Ise see da day dat wese all would roll over and play dead, but Ise guess da old ways of life bes gone."

"Henry, it not bes like that," Carl started to explain.

Henry put up his hand.

"Youse do what you 'ave to do, Carl. All of youse do what youse 'as to do.

And when youse 'as last call tonight, say goodbye to Tuckamore Bay."

Henry turned and walked out of the Pub.

The Pub was surrounded in silence. About half of the men finished their beer and left the Pub as well.

There was no music that night.