they toked before they headed out for a walk an
eventually windedround for a coffee at a shop across from the city mall a huge water fountain at its heart
as they sat at a table talking sipping espresso
he mentioned how the towns founding fathers knocked the ball out of the park by
erecting the fountain it had been one of
the things that fascinatedencouraged him to move there
If something happened to
it I would miss it terribly
Really? I haven’t given it much thought. Kind
of like a backdrop for me, something of a stage prop.
A stage prop
Yes. You tend to be . what’s the best word . .
. attached . yes attached . . to things that often don’t register with me.
A onehunred year old fountain doesnt register
Well, it’s nice certainly, but I haven’t the
affection you have, however, this isn’t my home town.
Its not mine either
Though perhaps rather its my attraction to old city halls the parks parkways reflecting pools ponds fountains that
were planned in conjunction with them Community Sense of purpose
Your home town has grand
old city buildings but no grounds surrounding themunless yawanna point at the significant
parking lots an structures In a word
like your best word utilitarian
It's the county seat.
Big deal
they paused a moment as a brandspankingnew pickup
truck pulled up before them and stopped the occupant cracked the windows sixinches picked up a cellphone made a
call then shifted his body in the seat which seemed to suggest he anticipated a
long call
Macks county seat remark set off a political
discussion the Former looking to pin the
wrap on someone cult of celebrity Republicants without a plank nor expressed purpose
other than obstructing the president the Democrats agenda the two senators who were holding it up filibuster Real America over hashtag CoVid nineteen
What the hell is that? Mack motioned with his head
he looked Wha
The guy, on the phone, in his truck.
Wha of him
What the hell’s with these guys who leave their
truck running while they’re parked; a pet peeve of mine.
His truck isnt running An I know
What do you mean his truck isn’t running?
I think yare hearing the fountain mistaking
it for the truck
No. That’s the truck.
he shifted in
his chair as if he was going to get up
Gimme a
secondmight save ya some embarrassment he
paused and listened hard as he listened
he thought of Macks father who several times told him to speak slowly I can’t
listen as quick anymore. made him chuckle then an now
No Yare wrong
Its definitely the fountain
You’re wrong; I’m gonna put an end to this.
he got up on his hind legs walked out onto the street behind the
truck as he approached his walk took on
a stealthy attitude he was listening on the
street he continued along the bed and up to the drivers window it appeared he excused himself the driver looked at Mack said something into
the phone spoke to Mack pausedappeared to excuse himself and returned to his
call
Mack stepped backanaway then returned
the way he went
he sat down
took a sip of his espresso
So
Said his truck was off.
So it was the fountain
Apparently.
Wow
Yare high Ill excuse ya
It sounded like the truc . .
.
. It wasntnot even apparently Apparently Wha crap
1407, ReggaeFriday,
10 12. 21
1213, ReggaeFriday,
17 12. 21
