The Hole in the Middle Read Online Free PDF Page B

sees that she has my attention, she cocks her head and gives me an almost imperceptible but unmistakable wink. And then she puts a long finger up to her lips. It is simultaneously a signal between conspirators that a prank of epic proportions is in the works and a warning not to spoil the fun.
    It is a gesture that I would recognize anywhere, having seen it many times over the years. It’s one of Lillian Parker’s signature moves, but this is a novel context, and it dawns on me that Lil’s message this morning hadnothing whatsoever to do with her holiday party. I tune Barry out while I construct and reject several elaborate theories to explain why this search could possibly have piqued Lil’s interest, why everyone in the room seems to think her name is Mrs. Baxter, and why Lil has deemed it necessary to come in disguise.
    â€œ. . . committed to a short list of three. Since the policy that we are bound to follow requires that we meet with the most qualified female candidate and the most qualified visible minority candidate, we may need to alter our preliminary selections,” Barry continues. “Obviously, we are all interested in seeing Stephen Paul.”
    I flip through my binder. This isn’t a name that I remember seeing. I find the CV and can see immediately why I didn’t flag it; the candidate has years of experience as the CEO of a major corporation, but there’s nothing on the CV about fund-raising. I’m obviously missing something here. I raise my index finger in the air.
    Barry registers my presence, and raises his hand. “Just a minute,” he says. “I should have mentioned one other thing. When we reviewed the policy earlier this week, we discovered”—again he glares at Jenny—“that we were short a staff rep. So I’ve asked”—he consults his notes—“Sophie Whelan from the communications office to serve for the last leg of our deliberations.” The group swivels to look at me, and I give a little wave. “Did you have a question, Sophie?” asks Barry, discouragingly.
    â€œJust a quick one,” I say. “I have Mr. Paul’s CV here, but I don’t have any information about his fund-raising experience. I assume you had this discussion before I joined the committee, but I was hoping you could fill me in if we are going to interview him.”
    Now Barry glowers, Jenny beams, and I want to stab myself with my pen for having wandered into enemy camp in my first five minutes. “Our view is that Stephen’s experience managing a massive public corporation for fifteen years is extremely transferable,” Barry asserts. “And obviously, as CEO, he has had oversight of the corporation’s philanthropic foundation.”
    Barry is putting me on notice that further interventions will beunwelcome, and may even convert his general indifference to antipathy. I square my shoulders and raise my hand again. Barry frowns. “Yes?”
    â€œAgain, please accept my apologies if I go over things that you’ve already discussed. I just want to make sure that I’m on the same page.” I point to the CV on the table in front of me. “Obviously, Mr. Paul has extensive experience working with his corporate foundation, but I’m not sure how transferable that experience would be to our operation.” Several people straighten in their chairs and lean forward; I’m not sure whether they are interested in my analysis or just want to get a good view of the new kid’s act of self-immolation. “Corporate foundations give money away,” I continue. “In the most basic terms, their job is to manage an annual budget and decide how to allocate it among worthy charities and community projects. An organization like ours works in the opposite way. We raise money from the community in order to support our own projects.” I pause. “The vice president of advancement is our