Marvelous Al Martinez

The Writerly Pause spoke with Mr. Al Martinez. He was gracious and invited us into his home nestled amid oak trees. Surrounded by books, and all the things that one would collect in a newspaper career that has spanned 50 years, he spoke of his experiences as a writer.

I'll share one of his stories with you.
When Al worked at the Oakland Tribune, he has a tight deadline for a story. He was writing about a boy who was dying of leukemia, and all he wanted was peaches. But it was winter, and this was before Make-A-Wish Foundation, the internet, or the international shipping of fruits was common. Al was working on the story, unsure of whether or not he'd make the deadline and the worst thing was that this kid was probably not going to get his peaches.

He had a giant of a city editor at that time named Al Reck, who called him from home. He wanted to know how the article was going. Martinez told him about the peaches, how the kid was dying.
"Get the kid his peaches," he said.
"But I can't find any. It's winter and they're not in season."
"Call Australia," he said, and gave Martinez a phone number. How Al Reck even knew of a farm down under that grew them remains a mystery. This is before Google, before mail order, before Australia entered our consciousness.
So Martinez calls Australia. It's summer in the southern hemisphere and sure they can send him the peaches, but they probably won't get through customs.
Al Reck calls back. "Got your peaches?"
"No, they won't make them through customs," he says.
"Then call the Director of Agriculture in Washington DC," he says. Again, Al gives him a phone number. But even more... it's the guy's home.
"I can't call him, it's 3 hours ahead!"
"Get the kid his peaches," says Al.
So Martinez calls the director. He's mad. But then Martinez says the magic words: "Al Reck" and lo and behold, doors open. San Fransisco customs is called and they get the order: let those peaches through.
Martinez orders the peaches. The growers agree to fly them out immediately.
Reck calls Martinez again.
"Got the peaches?" he asks.
"Yeah, I got them, but I still don't think I'll make my deadline," says Martinez.
"I didn't say you would make your deadline. I just said you'd get the kid his peaches!"
The story made the deadline. And the child died a few days later, but only after he got his peaches.