A Study In Scarlett
by Ann Douglas
(ann_douglas@hotmail.com)
Part Three
- Today -
Two hundred eager young faces filled the front rows of the auditorium as the graduating class of the Nursing Academy awaited the keynote speaker. Normally, the speaker would be an alumni of the school, or someone from the medical community who would comment on the career on which they were about to embark.
This time, in honor of the school's 25th anniversary, the speaker was going to be someone associated with the founding of the school back in 1975. The recently announced appearance of this particular commencement guest had filled the hall to standing room only.
At the time the school had been founded, she had been the CEO and principle owner of the far-reaching McMurphy Industries. Although long since retired from that long held position, she still sat in the lead chair of the McMurphy Foundation. An organization, which, among other concerns, regularly awarded out scholarships in the memory of the woman whose name rested on the academy's letterhead.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, students and honored guests," the tall Dean of Nursing said as he stepped up the podium. "It is my great honor to introduce a woman, who by the life she's led needs no introduction. Her career and accomplishments as a captain of industry are only exceeded by her work in the humanities and the arts. Please join me in welcome Ms. Scarlett McMurphy."
A thunderous ovation filled the large hall as a tall white haired woman appeared from behing the curtains and quickly moved to the rostrum. Seventy-two years old, she moved with a grace and ease which defied her years. Her soft, short white hair rested in a carefully crafted style and her face still reflected the intelligence and drive that had been the hallmarks of her long life. To those close enough to see, her most noticeable features were bright emerald eyes which peered out from behind round gold rimmed glasses. Eyes which still sparked with fire and zeal.
Scarlett paused until the applause died down, then thanked everyone for their reception. Once the sounds of welcome subsided, the keynote speaker talked for a few minutes about the school and their careers, exactly the sort of speech most people expected.
The white haired woman had been speaking for a few minutes when she suddenly paused. She seemed to be thinking about something for a few seconds, then seemed to change her mind about her speech.
"If you'll forgive an old woman," she said with a touch of humor in her smile, "I think I'd rather not give the speech I just started. It's nothing you haven't heard before, and I'm sure it's nothing that you'll miss."
A mixed chorus of laughter from the graduates replied to her words. In truth, they had hoped to hear something more than the same old speech.
Scarlett turned to one of the two young assistants who seemed to follow her everywhere. In response to her whispered request, the young blond haired woman reached into her attache case and handed her boss a thin manila folder. Scarlett thanked her and then turned back to the audience.
"What I'd really like to tell you about," The elegant woman continued in a strong clear voice, "is a woman whose name you see on all the walls around the school. Her portrait hangs by the main entrance and I'm sure most of you pass it at least once a day."
Scarlett paused for a moment and took a sip from the glass of cold water her other assistant, a short haired Asian girl, had put there for her.
"She started her career as an Army Nurse, in a place few people had ever heard of, at least until war broke out there a few years after she arrived. Aside from her duties in the military, she also spent those years carrying for the children of Korea, the innocents who are the most tragic victims in any conflict. It was a passion that consumed her long after both the fighting and her Army career were behind her. I'm proud to say that in her later years, I was in a position to help with those efforts. "
Scarlett paused again, wanting to see if she had the audience's attention. It only took a brief moment to see that she did.
"But even those deeds can be as easily looked up as the dates of her life that are carved beneath that portrait." she went on. "No, what I want to tell you about is the woman behind those deeds. The woman who, for twenty-six years, was simply the most gracious lady it was ever my honor to know. A woman who knew how to smile, and how to make others laugh. And a woman who taught me a definition of love that few ever come to understand."
Scarlett paused for a second drink, giving this speech was harder than she had thought it would be. That was why she had originally started with the more conventional one.
However, there was no going back now, not with every seat in the house riveted to her every word.
"I like to tell you about Alice Ann Caldwell", she said as she seemed to look beyond the crowd. "And a life that embodied the goals and aspirations that everyone in this school should strive for. She was more than a name carved in stone over the entranceway. She was a living, breathing human being, who devoted her life to others. She was my very best friend."
Looking down at her folder, Scarlett beamed as she looked once more at the small black and white photograph sealed in plastic that was clipped to her notes. It was a very old photograph, showing two young women in front of an old battered sign. Of all her considerable possessions, and among all her varied memories, that simple faded image was Scarlett's most treasured keepsake. It was a brief moment, frozen forever in time. A remembrance of love that had never faded with age.
END