Slim Randles
Delbert McLain smiled at the sign in Marvin Pincus’s yard as he walked briskly up to the front door and knocked. Marvin had seen him coming and opened it with a big smile and a handshake.
“Delbert! I’ve got to tell you I’ve really been looking forward to seeing what kind of flies we can tie up to improve your love life. You want some coffee?”
“Love life?” Del said. “Oh not today, Marvin, not today. I’m here on chamber business. Yessir.”
Delbert McLain is our Chamber of Commerce. We have all designated him … well … okay, I guess Del kinda designated himself to let the world know we adore progress, our community is the healthiest, safest and most prosperous place to raise children or crops or make widgets.
“Official business, Del?”
“Yes indeed, Marvin. Now that you’re a local businessman, you’ll be needing the services of the chamber to put your love counseling and fly tying service on the map. The world (he waved his arms) is waiting to hear about the (he looked out the front window at the sign) … the Fly Tying Love Center.”
“Does it cost money to join?”
“Fifty bucks a year, Marvin. That’s for a whole year!”
“And what do I get for that?”
“We list you on our chamber business list, and of course there’s the monthly lunch meeting at the Mule Barn.”
“Oh, you pay for lunch at the Mule Barn?”
“Uh … no…”
“I eat there every day now, Del, and the guys tell me how to run my business and live my life, for free.”
On the way back out to his car, Del thought how some businesses just weren’t very progressive minded. Not at all.
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Brought to you by “I Honked My Horse But the Tree Didn’t Hear,” which will be published as soon as I locate the bravest publishing company in the world.
