Melody Gaspar gashed as she entered the Corvette Restaurant and looked in the direction of the large table Watson and Jo Ellen Jones traditionally occupied.
The director of the Martin Street Church choir was watching as Jo Ellen Jones held up a cigarette. Before she could catch her breath Melody saw Jo Ellen take a puff and sent a long steam of smoke into the air.
Needless to say, Melody had never seen Jo Ellen smoke.
Jo Ellen had just announced to several members of her large family that she had decided to return to smoking after a 30-year absence. Her announcement on St. Patrick's Day, which also happened to be her 51st birthday. It came a day after she and Watson would have their jobs terminated with the closing of Slocum Pace Bible College at the end of the school year.
Shortly after their marriage in June of 1972, Watson took a job as religion instructor at SPC. He had served for years as director of religious education at the college. After giving birth to her 14th child, Jo Ellen had moved into the the position of director of media information for the college.
Jo Ellen had suspected a big move for the university. She had word that the admissions department had still not mailed out any letters of acceptance for admission to the university. In fact, she had taken steps to create a net to fall back in if the worst-possible scenario happened.
It did Friday as Slocum Pace, now 80, said he would have to close his university. While the community joked of the conservatism of the school, it knew it would feel the pain of the loss of one of the biggest employers.
Slocum Pace called his institution a university although its official name was a college. It was more commonly called Slo Pace by the locals. Now Slo Pace was grinding to a halt.
Melody tried to be as diplomatic as possible at seeing Jo Ellen smoke. "I know that stress is getting to you. I hope you get over that strain before the foul habit takes hold."
Jo Ellen had already heard another diplomatic comment from Ima Clerk when she bought a pack of Winstons that morning. "Who are those for?" Ima asked. "I just need a pack of Winstons and a box of matches," responded Jo Ellen. "I bet it's for some kind of demonstration at Sunday School tomorrow," chimed in John, Ima's husband.
Jo Ellen left without comment. With pack and matches in her purse, she returned home where large segments of her brood would enter the family van and head for the Corvette. It was an event that would change attitudes and turn heads in the highly conservation town of Henderson Valley.
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