Stephanie's Stepside
A Novella of Central California
by
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The next morning Stephanie felt human again, with her hair restored and fatigue abated. There was even a spring in her step when she stepped into the lab. She saw Jacob and smiled to herself, but when she saw Professor Daniels, the head of the science division, red flags started flying. She didn't know how she knew, but she knew something was wrong, and whatever it was, it was coming right at her. The gravel-voiced professor asked her to step into the office and Jacob followed her and closed the door behind him. “Ms. Granger, we have received some complaints about your work,” grated Daniels, “And I thought it only fair to tell you what they are, and let you respond, before we take any action.” "Here it comes,' Stephanie thought, “I knew those board-member farmers had connections and clout. I wonder what they're complaining about.” Daniels continued, “I'm sure you know there has been controversy ever since your senior project was published.” She nodded, trying to keep her mind clear, “Here it comes!” "The Central Valley Agri-growers Cooperative is threatening to pull its support from the university unless your work is stopped!” Finally, there it was, stark and ugly. The money card had been played! It didn't matter that it was ECS pulling the strings. The Cooperative was important to the university, and she knew it. Carefully and not without some trepidation, she considered her next words, because she knew the future of her master's project was on the line, and quite possibly her career! “Professor Daniels, you know that I am not responsible for the Environmental Containment & Salvage site.” He nodded, “You know that I'm not responsible for the earthquake.” Again he nodded. “You also know that I'm not responsible for the toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and plastic effluvium that were stored at the Environmental Containment & Salvage site. In fact, you know that the primary purpose of my research project has not been to assign blame, but rather to determine the earliest possible time that the land could be returned to production and to determine, if possible, what ecologically safe methods might be employed to expedite that return to production!” Daniels again had to nod. “You know that my senior project was not released by me to the press, but rather by the university and that I tried to explain it to the press when the news hit. What you may not know, is that I'm from that area and know first hand the devastation the contamination caused. I realize how threatened the farmers feel, especially those that are not only farmers, but share holders in Environmental Containment & Salvage, and I know what they are going through. That is the very reason my research is so vital to their interests. I understand they see me as the enemy, because they are so close to the issue. My hope this year, has been that the university, with its ability to see the larger picture, would see that the ultimate goal of either removing or neutralizing the contaminants, was the focus of my research, and would thus benefit not only the growers, but the population who is in desperate need of the agricultural products that once poured from this land.!”
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About the Book
An 8.0 earthquake almost completely destroyed Interstate 5 in California's Central Valley, heavily damaged the California aqua duct and cracked the holding ponds of a toxic waste facility that released the toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and plastic effluvium, a “witch's brew,” that poisoned miles of the most fertile land in the world. Stephanie Granger's master's project was to study the extent of the poisoning and what methods, if any, might return the land to production. Not long into her research, influence, pressure, and eventually death threats from the conglomerate that owned the toxic waste facility, hound her in her search for the truth. She is forced to flee from the university lab that had become her second home, and armed with her lab and field work studies, endeavors to put the research findings together to save the land, her friends, and herself!
About the Author
Lonnie Mair, is a retired high school teacher, who has lived in the Central Valley of California since his service in the U.S Navy brought him and wife to live there. After his military service was completed, he returned to the college classroom to complete his education, and teaching credential. Over the course of over thirty years in the high school classroom, he taught many subjects, but perhaps the one in which he spent the most time, was in teaching English and composition. It was during the course of one of those classes that he initiated a writing exercise designed to recognize and develop the skills of writing. It would be an intentional effort to develop characterization, setting, and plot, through writing, and while the students wrote, he would as well. Although they shared their efforts together, it was not long until other pressing assignments led the writing effort to a back shelf, and there, not forgotten, but out of sight, the beginning of this story lay. After retirement, other responsibilities consumed the years. It was during a periodic effort at “recovering” his den, that the fragment once again saw the light of day, and inspired the further development and eventual completion of this story. Lonnie is not a native of California, but has loved it since his arrival in 1963. Shortly thereafter, he arrived in the Central Valley, and except for a stint in electronics school in the Navy and another shorter one in further training while still in the Navy, has lived there ever since.