Ep.309 - Calumet "K" Series, Chapter 17

Jason shares Chapter 17 of "Calumet K" by Merwin Webster, the final chapter. Planning postponed Christmas dinner, need big hall, weather too cold for distributing floor. Max, Pete, Bannon making tables from planks and boxes, decorating with flags and scalloped shelf paper. Bannon offers Max assistant position on Indianapolis concrete elevator project: "It's going to be concrete from the spiles up. There ain't anything like it in the country." Max wants to talk to Hilda first. Pete asks Hilda to be guest of honor, she refuses: "I only came to help." Awkward tension. Hilda sends Max for napkins—signal she wants to talk to Bannon alone. "Did you mean it? Did you mean the whole thing?" She slowly nods. They hang flags together. Bannon tells her about Indianapolis project, then realizes: "Can you go with me Monday?" She nods. "And you'll stay for the dinner, won't you?" She nods again. James tries giving speech praising Bannon—Bannon physically stops him: "We aren't handing out any soft soap at this dinner." James shouts: "How about this, boys? Shall we stand it?" Chorus: "No!" "All right then. Three cheers for Mr. Bannon. Now, hip hip—" Response unstoppable. End of Calumet K.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• The apprentice-to-assistant pipeline: Bannon recognizes Max's growth, offers him assistant role on revolutionary concrete elevator project, investing in people who proved themselves

• Why Hilda initially refuses guest of honor seat: knows it will force public acknowledgment of relationship before she's decided, she wants control of timing

• The napkin signal: "Max, won't you go out and get enough napkins?", Hilda taking control, creating space to talk to Bannon, reversing her week of avoidance

• Bannon's forgotten promise: gets excited about Indianapolis project, forgets vacation entirely until she asks "When are you going to begin?", work comes naturally to him

• The Monday question: "Can you go with me Monday?", not the romantic St. Lawrence trip, just straight to next job together, she says yes

• Why Bannon stops James's speech: "We aren't handing out any soft soap. If you try that again, I'll throw you out the window.", protects both his reputation and Hilda's privacy

"Three cheers for Mr. Bannon. Now, hip hip" There was no stopping that response.

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