Miss Primblush

Miss Primblush is the efficient secretary in Curt Stevens's imagined term as mayor of Odyssey. She appears almost instantly whenever he calls, a speed that unsettles the inexperienced young official. While Curt dreams of celebrity visitors and presidential hotlines, Primblush remains part of the real machinery surrounding his impressive office. She helps give his fantasy the appearance of smooth authority even as his careless decisions create budget problems, public protests, and a threat to Whit's End. Curt eventually discovers that government involves responsibility rather than a cushy room and people waiting for orders. Dependable and brisk, Miss Primblush contrasts with the daydream mayor's confusion. Her readiness makes clear that an organized staff cannot protect a leader who signs major decisions without study or sound judgment.