The Okefenokee Round Table

The Okefenokee Round Table

As usual, he was the first to arrive.  Even though he no longer had anything to get ready, even though it was no longer his responsibility to pick up Grace Lee, he nevertheless was still the opening player in the round table performance.

Tom Strait looked around the room.  Olive Garden had gone all out, closing off the back room, just one large, round table at the center of the room.  Silverware and napkins were already set out.  Water glasses filled with Fiji Water and empty wine glasses were set all the way around.  There were 12 seats.  Would 12 show up?  Tom was skeptical, but you never know.

The first to arrive was Grace Lee, brought in by her daughter, Judy.  Tom was grateful to see her and bent down to hug her and kiss her on the cheek.  It had been three years since he last saw her.  She had stayed at Baptist Village, while he had moved to Traverse City, Michigan, and had only been back to Blackshear once or twice.  At 95, she looked in good spirits, slightly frailer, but still writing up a storm.  She had become one of the country’s most beloved columnists, and humorists, Her A Touch of Grace column, featuring her reminiscences, commentaries, and poetry ran in newspapers and online media sites throughout the world. 

“Thank you for bringing her here,” I told Judy, with an affectionate hug.

“She wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she said, smiling.  She brought Grace to the table, situating her walker as her chair.

A few minutes later entered Joshua and Juniper, together as always.  They were just in from their whirlwind book tour, Joshua having the most popular fantasy series since A Game of Thrones, launched with the book The Wakening Nocturne, and soon to be turned into an HBO series.  Juniper’s success was not far behind, her most recent novel, Cryptid Hunt, appearing on the New York Times bestseller list.  I was glad to see them, as they had moved to the west coast.

They were quickly followed by others, including Elizabeth Howard, who was one of the most popular religious playwrights and lyricists in the country; Brad Henderson, of the number one video game, Alligator Alley; the young college student, Cheyenne Irby, whose YA novels were burning up the bestseller charts.

It was now ten minutes past start time.  Tom had hoped at least one more would show up, but he couldn’t wait any longer.  He fake coughed to get their attention.  It’s good to see you all again.  Shall we go ahead and get…”

And that is when she walked in.  The fabulous Julianna Lacefield, smiling and happy.  She had come from Illinois to be with them. 

And so, with the glorious appearance of Julianna, who had just been declared National Poet Laureate by President Warren, the meeting of the Okefenokee Round Table was set to begin!

Like the Algonquin Round Table of the 1920s, every participant had reached some level of fame, Tom, probably the least.  He had a modest seller with The History of the Trap series (having just released Volume 3) and was having some small success at recording audiobooks.  Unlike the others, he couldn’t make a living at what he loved, but with Social Security and some tax season work, he was doing well enough, thank you very much.

Tom once again started the meeting, quickly dispensing with the formalities.  He looked at them all, a small tear forming, one that slowly rolled down his cheek. 

He stood up as straight as a Strait could.  “Now, who has something they’d like to share?”

Everyone raised their hands.