Chapter 8
John Witherspoon, husband of Benita, set up a bar in the Oak Room and subsequently became its tender. No more than a long table draped in white, it displayed an array of California wines and assorted hard liquors, while ice chests hidden below held soft drinks and beer. Rows of plastic glasses surrounding a large ice bucket were the only adornment. When Sutherlands began coming in around six, they drifted his way, and soon John Witherspoon was busy dispensing the sizeable stores that Sutherland Metals had provided.
Benita Witherspoon, her daughters, and Jane and Jennalee Preece worked at placing the first course—small but colorful fruit plates—at all one hundred forty-three places. Jennalee had conceded to black slacks, a short-sleeved white blouse, and black ballet slippers, b
