“So the Fourth of July is coming up. Suppose we supply the town of Lignite with holiday lights. You know, red, white, and blue. The Statue of Liberty in red, white, and blue lights. Every house in the town, every store, the hotel, every building all decked out in patriotic lights.”

“The way people decorate their houses for Christmas,” Glynis said.

“Yeah. But this’ll be for the Fourth of July. And all the electricity to light up the whole town’s decorations will come from the big rig!”

Glynis’s face lit up with enthusiasm. “That’s wonderful! I love it!”

“Fireworks, too,” Jake added. “Invite the whole state to come up to Lignite for the big Fourth of July celebration. Tomlinson can give a speech—”

“No. Let him push the button that lights up the town and sets off the fireworks.”

“Yeah! It’ll make a big splash in the news media for MHD,” Jake said.

“Yes, certainly.”

“Keep the lights on all night long.”

“Powered by the big rig.”

“Right.”

Her expression dimmed suddenly. “But suppose something goes wrong? It could be a terrible black eye for us.”

“That’s why we’ve got to get Tim behind this. He’s the one who’ll have to make sure it works right.”

“It would only be for eight hours,” Glynis mused. “Maybe less.”

“It could work,” Jake insisted. “Tim could make it work.”

“If he agreed to it.”

“Do you think he would?”

Glynis looked thoughtful. “We’ll see. Let me talk to him about it.”

Jake nodded, thinking that all the women he knew were wrapped up with other men. He looked down at his fried oysters. A lot of good they’re doing me, he thought.

Conversion

CONVERSION

It was almost a week later before Jake heard from Glynis again. She must be having a hard time convincing Tim about my idea, he thought. He could picture Younger adamantly refusing to use the big rig for a publicity stunt.

One morning, though, after a sweaty hour on the basketball court with Bob Rogers, Jake returned to his office and saw that Glynis had phoned to ask if he would take a ride out to the big rig with her. Jake immediately called her back.

“Bob’s asked me to tell Tim about your idea for the Fourth of July,” Glynis told him.

“You mean nobody’s told him about it yet?” Jake snapped into the phone. “For chrissakes, we’ve only got less than two weeks to—”

She interrupted, “Bob thinks Tim will be more receptive to the idea if I spring it on him.” Before Jake could think of a reply, she added, “Well, at least he’ll be less negative about it.”

Sure, Jake thought. He won’t get sore at her. Smart move, Rogers.

To Glynis he said, “Okay. I’ll go with you.”

That afternoon he hopped into her Jaguar and they started for Lignite.