Mr. Pike’s father and grandfather were in law, but after his father died, he became a reporter. The woman left out the part where he was no longer employed.
Mr. Pike appeared, to a smattering of applause. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming out tonight to hear me speak. I hope to enlighten and inform you of the facts about the illegal drug called Party Time …”
A man up front spoke, and laughter flowed around him.
“I understand,” Mr. Pike continued, a bit louder, “that this drug has been used in Bridges for many generations and in the past was a part of normal social life. However, with the harmful effects that can occur —”
A man a few rows down from me yelled, “— there ain’t no harm in it! You crazy do-gooders do more harm!”
“… seizures, hallucinations, and even death from ove
