BEGRUDGINGLY ADMIRED
He can drive nails better than anyone. His grip firm but relaxed, not choking up on the hammer, using the full haft, creating the greatest arc for the striking head to come down on its target, Some nails he drives with one blow. In time past, small galleries would gather to watch him nail things: trees and cotton undergarments, cats and washboards, fence posts and last week’s news. For a while, he was a celebrity, gaining fans from even the next near towns over. Then he switched from right hand to left, and, still the best, the magic was gone.
BUSINESS
The fellow who owns the motel has no problem housing zombies. They have money lifted from their victims, and are willing to take the sub-par rooms. Rooms where the windows face a near brick wall, or the radiator rattles itself awake and asleep, or the smell of romance-less passion will not come out of the curtains. Zombies pay full price for rooms others would demand be offered at discount. He does not ask them about their meals. His concern begins and ends in their being paying customers. If vampires show up, he has a few rooms with mirrors missing glass.
CHASING COMPLIANCE
I would not have put the metaphysicist’s shop on a street without churches. It looks as though the planning commission is taking sides. Still, there are two vacant shop-worthy buildings on the stretch with the metaphysicist’s establishment; some congregation could plant a competing front, bring the commercial district back into balance. Likely, none of our small religious sects can afford it. Knowing the designs, landlords will pull up their prices, thinking they can get more out of a renter with a mission. The metaphysicist has a fixed lease, at least for now. The competition has to be inventive to balance.
CIVIC PROJECT
The socially popular question is: when the authorities run out of witches , what sect will they burn next? Everyone has an opinion, but all need to be careful to distinguish wish from analysis. Everyone has a group they would not mind seeing, member by member, over time be put to the pyre. That is not a reasoned projection of where town council plans to spend its fire. Council tries to keep its prejudices cooled by cognition. In selecting a defined population of pariahs, there is always a tangible profit sought. Our better citizens know this and calculate, vice discriminate.
COMPLETING PARADISE
It is a sterling opportunity. We have three passable bars and at least two houses serving illicit spirits. Our jail is air conditioned, and a special cell with more amenities than others is reserved for our town drunk. Unfortunately, for all its benefits, our town drunk position is seen as a step to placement in larger towns, towns with more than one town drunk, perhaps a competitive union. With our town, we simply expect a certain rigor of cliches, suspect a town like ours should have a harmless town drunk. Maybe one day the right lush will elect to stay.
WHAT WE KNOW
We leave the parking space closest to any entry vacant. That prized spot is reserved for our town hero, should he need it. If the lot fills and people must park on the neighboring grass, that nearest spot is always open. It is our show of gratitude. The spaces are not marked, have no special symbology. Everyone simply knows what space it is, and obeys our traditions. One day, while we are entering some lot or exiting a building, we will see someone park in the spot. All will rush to meet the hero, but we will also carry stones.
DoubleSpeak 