WONDERFUL DAY IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
by Gene Royer
September 10, 2003
This happened a few years ago, and I remember posting it
to one of the now irrelevant writing newsgroups. A friend
of mine wrote recently and asked if I would send her a copy,
so I decided to dig it out of my archives and submit it to
the pages of the Tocquevillian. It concerns my neighbor Wilbur
who lost his job in the downsizing of the late-1990s and was
having to go all over the city for interviews.
One of the places he hoped to find work was all the way across
town in an area where he was not familiar. He told me he wasn't
sure he could find the business once he got in the general
vicinity. I told him I had the perfect solution to his problem.
"Just go to the first fire station you come to and ask them,"
I said. "And if they're too busy to help you, then go to the
first Pizza Hut you find. Hell, they deliver all over the
area, and they know where all the places of business are."
So, he took my advice and headed out.
Sure enough, when he decided he was near his destination
he spotted a fire station and stopped to ask directions. However,
as he pulled into the parking area, the big doors were coming
up, and a moment later the fire truck came roaring out with
its siren blasting and with three or four firefighters hanging
onto it.
So, Wilbur parked his car and walked inside to see if there
was anyone there who could help him. The only other person
was an old Mexican guy sweeping up, so Wilbur asked him how
to find the nearest Pizza Hut. The old man told him to go
to the second traffic light and turn left about six blocks.
Wilbur thanked him and drove away. He followed the old man's
instructions, but when he got to the Pizza Hut, the damn thing
was on fire.
©Gene Royer 1998
©
2003 Tocqevillian Magazine
