Sunday, February 10, 2013

A Snapped-And-Returned Salute

Sunday is as Sunday does, as someone clever once said.

Hey, don’t look at me; I just do funny badgers.

In case you've been asleep this month, Nicky and Mike over at We Work For Cheese are running a 28-day writing challenge throughout February.

I bet Mike tried to talk her out of it, too.





Good morning, Bear!

The halloo’d greeting is cheery, easy, welcoming.

As the seven-foot black bear ambles along the high street to the source of the shout, there is no panic; shoppers go about their consumption happily, kids run and shout and ride bikes, and pensioners enjoy the view from sidewalk benches despite the overcast day. Bear’s laconic bipedal gait helps this normality along, and the locals are kind enough to overlook his loud-but-sharp clothes; today's burgundy Armani suit and turquoise Hawaiian shirt tests this no more than usual.

The ursine wanderer arrives at the owner of the voice, a beaming thirty-something man with ginger hair, and claps him on the shoulder in greeting. They pass the time of day and probably the price of corn for a few moments before the towering bear heads on his way once more.

Other waves and shouts follow.

Bear! How’s it going? The teenage girl carries her skateboard on the pavement out of civic observance, but chattily joins Bear for twenty-yards before heading off into an inclined side street at full tilt.

Hello Bear! The elderly gent doesn’t rise from his daily seat, but Bear stoops to receive his hand, as he does every day. He listens carefully to a humorous tale about a fishing trip, and laughs long and loud as the old man acts out the part where there’s an angry fish hanging from his jaw.

Bear excuses himself cordially with a few words of farewell and snapped-and-returned salute as he hears his favourite voice.

Well hello there, Mister Mayor!

Bear heaves a sigh as he reaches his destination, a roadside coffee stand, and smiles kindly at the matronly owner. They swap a brief story or two as she pours and sugars his joe (tricky with paws), and she enquires how many people the Mayor has stopped to talk to on his way for his morning brew.

He confesses to seventeen, his Georgian baritone hushed into a whisper, and there's a twinkle in his eye.

Being the mayor of the small town in Maxwell County, Georgia is mostly a ceremonial position. But when Bear arrived back in his home town for a sabbatical after that business with Roth and the badgers, he was surprised to find himself nominated to the position almost immediately. Better yet, he surprised himself by accepting it unopposed almost as quickly.

There’s no authority or power that goes with the title, and that suits him fine; he leaves politics to the suits. But he loves the people he grew up with, and they love to talk to him, to share their day with him, their concerns and problems and joys and news.

He's a good listener.

And most of the time, that’s all people really want; to he heard, not helped.

As he sips his coffee, he reflects that he really must go to see Roth once his term in office is up; now there's a lad who always needs some help.

The coffee is, as ever, on the house.




Indigo

This blog entry is protected by copyright © Indigo Roth, 2013




35 comments:

  1. Loved it - perfectly set and amusing too. x

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    1. Hey Jack! Thank you, I had my doubts about this one, I must confess. But shhh, don't tell anyone, okay? Thanks, Indigo

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  2. georgia? bless your heart, sugar. xoxoxox

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    1. Hey Savannah! Yes, Georgia was on my mind. Indigo x

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  3. Georgian - I read that as Glaswegian. That would be a bear accent for sure. Hehe.

    Very nicely done. A coffee confection.

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    1. Hey Alistair! A Glaswegian bear? You know, I'd love to sit and have a few bevies with him, it sounds like the start of an entertaining evening. "Hey, Rrroooth! Ah cud mudder a curry!" Indigo

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    2. Extra care would be needed the morning after I bet. On of Dad's phrases to describe anger, disgruntlement or frustration was 'like a bear with a sore head'. I could imagine what a 'weegie' bear with a hangover would be like.

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    3. Handle with care. And alka-seltzer.

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  4. I almost couldn't bear when this story came to an end. It really gave me paws to read it. I certainly enjoyed it, Indigo.

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    1. Now look Dufus, if you continue with that level of punning, things could get grisly for you. Heh. Indigo

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    2. Come on Indigo - bear with us on this one.....

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    3. Oh MAN, I have to start moderating these before they're posted...

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  5. Awww ... lovely ... The only thing missing is a detailed description of Bear's loud-but-sharp clothes :) (sorry, can't help wondering!)

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    1. Hey Jenn! You know, I may just have to go back and add that detail. Perhaps once I've had mah porridge... Indigo

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    2. Hahaha - love it! Thanks!

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    3. *raises his hat to a lady*

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  6. Unbearably charming story, and a most unique take on the prompt. :)

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    1. Ooooh, look, you've been taking punning lessons from Dufus! Stop that! Don't make me come over there, woman! Indigo

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  7. You sir, are a true genius. What a way with words. This is pretty damn creative and amazing!

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    1. Hey Katherine! Well, bless you, that's a lovely thing to say. I'm not sure I'm worthy of it, but I'll take it on the chin for the team. I've been greatly enjoying your entries, too =) Indigo

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  8. Mike did NOT try to talk me out of this! He's knows better. :-)

    I love these stories of yours, Indigo. They make me smile.

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    1. Hey Nicky! He sounds a wise man; we could all learn from his example. And thank you, that's a lovely compliment; I'm glad they're working for you. Indigo x

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  9. I might like politics better if the men and women who run for office looked like bears. Bears are friendly looking. Usually, anyway.

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    1. Hey Mike! I hear ya buddy. It's a shame some of the Generals never ran for office. Norman Schwarzkopf? Colin Powell? They'd be fantastic bears. I was saddened when Michael Clarke Duncan passed away; a tragic loss in itself, but he'd have been the voice of Bear, no contest. Indigo

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  10. I truly thought it was going to end with the bear biting the head off a corrupt mayor. A guy can hope, can't he? :D

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    1. Hey P.J.! No, there's no violence, drugs, sex or bad language on this blog. Frankly, it's a miracle anyone reads it at all. Indigo

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  11. Blue man, I'm not sure, but I think you and I speak different languages. :) Wonderful post!

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    1. Hey Malisa! I'm not sure exactly what that means, but in my arrogance I'll take it as a compliment! Thanks! I'm glad you liked it =) Indigo x

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  12. Wonderfully quirky and charming, Indigo. :) And the photo is great, too. ;)

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    1. Hey Ziva! Thanks, I hope they'll use both of those words as they lay me to rest =) I'm really pleased you like the photo; I had a little help from a good friend. Indigo x

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  13. I knew it! I knew they were electing bears in Georgia!

    Pearl

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    1. Hey Pearl! Yep, plus a Mexican Hairless and a couple of Armadillos, so I hear. Indigo x

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  14. I'm charmed, but also very confused. My mind always bends a little when I stop by here.

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    1. Hey KZ! Well then, I consider my work here done. Indigo

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