should have been more careful. And so on and so on. The professor moved from behind his desk to occupy the other worn chair. In any case, Mr. Sheridan wishes to be left alone. Whatever the reason, Iâm sure he still feels wounded.
Well, thatâs the thing, Patrick said. If he came back and settled this war, everyone would really respect him. Theyâd honor him. Besides, I donât know anyone else who can do it. From all I can tell, people around here are getting angrier and angrier at each other. I hear it all the time. Every time I try to cover a story itâs âAnimasâ this and âAnimasâ that.
Smithson held up his hand. I know. I know. Even our little coffee group. Weâve been getting together for years. Mr. Murphy and I used to shout at each other. It may not be a war quite yet, but itâs surely a kind of a battle. And itâs been going on too long for anyoneâs good.
Thatâs what Iâm trying to say, Patrick said. Youâre one of the leaders of the opposition. And my father was one of the original creators of the AnimasâLa Plata. He got the whole thing going years ago when he was a member of Congress. Before he died, he was the biggest cheerleader for it.
After youâd been in my classes for a couple of years, the professor said, I began to wonder whether you were related, so I have to admit I looked it up in your files. You never mentioned it, as I recall.
He was whatâs usually called a colorful character, Patrick said ruefully. Not always easy to get along with as a father either. But I have to confess that my interest in the history of the AnimasâLa Plata began over the dinner table when I was a kid. Thatâs all he ever talked about. It was his big purpose in life.
You did write your senior paper on that history, as I recall, the professor said.
Patrick shook his head. I practically had to. He insisted beforeâ¦before he dropped dead.
In any case, itâs hard to spend much time in these parts without being drawn into it one way or the other, Smithson said. I know that from personal experience.
So, thatâs my idea, Professor, the young man said. In a way I represent, through my father, I guess, one point of view. And, as a big environmentalist, you represent the other.
Not very big, the professor demurred.
Okay, leading environmentalist, the former student said. So, hereâs my idea. The two of us should go to Mr. Sheridan, more or less representing both sides, and propose that he get back involved by becoming the mediator of this whole matter.
Smithson took some time to think. He shook his head sadly. Heâll never do it. At least I donât think he will. Who are we? Self-appointed spokesmen for the community? We donât have the power or the authority to even suggest mediation, let alone the mediator. Besides, Mr. Sheridan likes his privacy. Heâs a friendly man. But heâs also a solitary man. He likes it up there where he lives.
Patrick Carroll moved to the edge of the creaking chair. But itâs a chance for him to play a role. From all I can tell, everyone had respect for him before all that trouble. You and some others were pushing him for governor. This is his chance to come back.
Smithson smiled. He doesnât want to âcome back,â as you say. Why? To do what? I can absolutely guarantee you that he doesnât have a politically ambitious bone in his body. Itâs the last thing in the world he would want to do now.
Iâm not necessarily talking about politics, Patrick said. Iâm talking about becoming a leading citizenâ¦playing a roleâ¦helping solve a big problem, heal a wound.
The professor thought again. Thatâs a little closer to it where Mr. Sheridanâs concerned. Iâve never spoken to him about it, and I never will. But it would be only human for him to want to lay to rest all that speculation from years ago. Smithson was silent again. Then