That’s One High Priced Politician

“Can I get you anything else, a piece of cake, maybe?” I looked up and smiled at the same pleasant-looking older man who had helped me unload the car and set up my book table when I first arrived at the church.

“No sir, I’m good for now. Y’all have been mighty good to me.”

I could tell he liked the sound of that. He had certainly done his part, even serving me a steaming cup of pick-me-up coffee right after my speech. Now he was just hanging around the book table and chatting with me in between customers, which was totally okay with me. He was very entertaining. Regardless of which way the conversation went, he had a joke ready.

Once his wife stuck her head out of the kitchen and asked, “Shellie, if that old man of mine is bothering you, just holler.”

“He’s not,” I said. “We understand each other.”
She frowned good-naturedly. “Well, he’s trouble. Don’t believe half of what he tells you and question what’s left.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said. The older fellow just grinned and rolled his eyes. Much later, as my new buddy was helping me back to the car he asked, “So, you interested in politics?” I’d been visiting with him long enough now to recognize a set-up but I couldn’t help but play along. This was probably gonna be another funny. “Um…well, yes, sir,” I said, “you could say that, although interested may not be the word I would’ve used. I stay more frustrated with politicians and the way the whole system works than anything.”

“Yeah,” the man said agreeably, “I hear you. That’s generally how I feel about the movers and the shakers but we got ourselves a really good senator up there in Washington this time. This fellow is nobody’s yes man, no siree.”

I was about to comment on how refreshing that sounded when he added mischievously, “This guy free-lances.”

 

Hugs, Shellie