Paladin, Chapter 9

EXT. STREET - DAY

PALADIN exits Sheriff's office and walks to saloon and enters.

INT. SALOON - DAY

PALADIN enters saloon and sees POLLYANNA sitting at a table drinking with a young man.  They are in animated conversation.  PALADIN interrupts.

PALADIN: (speaking to POLLYANNA) Excuse me.  But, we need to talk.

JOHN HENRY: Hey, mister.  You're buttin in where you don't belong.  Shut up and be gone.

PALADIN: (ignoring JOHN HENRY) As I said, we need to talk.

JOHN HENRY stands up, glowering at PALADIN.  PALADIN slowly turns to face him.  Finally, POLLYANNA acts.

POLLYANNA: Hold it, JOHN HENRY, let me talk to the man and I'll get back to you real soon.  Please!

JOHN HENRY reluctantly leaves them alone.  PALADIN sits down.

PALADIN: Lady, you brought me here under false pretenses.  I'm trying to think what I should do for the money I'm not returning.  Any ideas?  

POLLYANNA: Kill BIG DAN and GRACE.

PALADIN: And why should I do that?  

POLLYANNA: Because I paid you.  I saw how you killed those two last night.  What's two more to you?

PALADIN: Maybe I should kill you instead. 

POLLYANNA: I think you'd rather fuck me than kill me.

PALADIN: If you aren't happily wed, why don't you get a divorce?

POLLYANNA: I'd lose half interest in a lucrative property, our cattle ranch.  

PALADIN: Then, there's the matter of CHARLES, who doesn't seem so amorous towards you.  

POLLYANNA: Oh, he acts different when we're alone.  Has to act that way when he's in front of GRACE, a worthless woman.

PALADIN: You're not helping me.  I'd like to do something for the money you paid me, but I'm having difficulty finding a solution.  I'm going to remain in town for maybe a couple of days.  You can find me at the hotel.  Try to come up with something.  

PALADIN departs saloon.

Typing

A typewriter is a machine for typing characters. Typically, a typewriter has an array of keys, and each one causes a different single character to be produced on paper by striking an inked ribbon selectively.

The first commercial typewriters were introduced in 1874, but did not become common in offices in the United States until after the mid-1880s.  The typewriter quickly became an indispensable tool for practically all writing other than personal handwritten correspondence. 

It was widely used by professional writers, in offices, in business correspondence in private homes, and by students preparing written assignments.

Typewriters were a standard fixture in most offices up to the 1980s. After that, they began to be largely replaced by personal computers running word processing software. 

The QWERTY keyboard layout, developed for typewriters in the 1870s, remains the de facto standard for English-language computer keyboards.

In the summer of 1960, at age fifteen, with few options, I decided to attend summer school at OHS.  I chose two classes: world history and typing.

I knew that I could no longer submit hand written compositions for school work.  I needed to learn how to type.

I remember sitting in the first row by the door in the back of a room full of typewriters.  I also remember I was the only male in the classroom.  However, I failed to take advantage of such a favorable environment.  I never talked to any of my classmates.

I wasn't the best student, but I learned how to type.  I am typing this blogpost on my computer keypad without looking at the keys, something I learned how to do 65 years ago.   

Cataract

Two years ago, I visited an eye clinic for an annual checkup.  I was surprised when the doctor said that I was getting closer to needing cataract surgery.

Cataract is a medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision.  During surgery, the lens of the eye is replaced by a new and better one.

This year's annual checkup recommended cataract surgery now.  I found a surgeon I trusted.

My surgery took place on Wednesday, July 2nd.  I had to be there at 7 AM.  Luckily, the location was nearby.

I was put at ease when the receptionist, the surgeon and the anesthesiologist all spoke English.  A very kind nurse placed an intravenous in the crook of my left elbow.

When the anesthesiologist approached, I asked him to tell me when he would put me to sleep.  He said, "Now."

The next thing I remember is waking up from my more or less 30 minute operation.  I was carefully assisted to standing up (surgery was in a prone position), walking to the elevator and into our car for our return trip home at about 10 AM.

Cristina has greatly assisted me with the commencement of three weeks of required eye drops, starting with every four hours, but now every eight hours for another two weeks.

I noticed with the new lens that everything appears brighter and more colorful.  Blueberries are now very blue instead of just plain dark.  Good!