Slim Randles'  Home Country

A lesson on life and love, flash and substance

Part 5: The aftermath

(See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)

[August 01, 2009]  Marjorie Pincus had noticed a change in her husband since the other evening. It began at supper, right after that nice Randall Jones had gone home. She didn't want to pry about what Marvin and Randy had talked about in Marvin's den, but she liked the change in her man since then.

Marvin was sitting over his second cup of tea this morning with a faraway look in his eyes and a smile. She liked that. Retirement hadn't always been easy for Marvin. He had always been a doer, and when he retired, he seemed distracted and frustrated much of the time. But now things had changed.

"Penny for your thoughts, Dear," she said.

"Just thinking," he said, smiling up at her. "That Jones boy was in need of some advice and came over the other day, you know."

She nodded.

"And I was able to straighten him out on affairs of the heart, don't you know?"

"Really?"

"Oh, yes," Marvin said. "He's crazy about that Marcia Fleming and she's ... well, she isn't interested, that's for sure. So he's just spinning his wheels. I thought it was high time someone showed him the error of his ways. There are plenty of nice girls around who would appreciate having him for a boyfriend, I'm sure. So I thought, with my experience ... ."

"Marvin, I thought I was the only girl you ever went out with, all those many years ago."

"Oh, you were, Hon. You were. That's why I know the difference between a flibbertigibbet and a woman of substance. So I set him on the right path."

"I always thought you would have made a wonderful father, Marvin."

"Thank you. And you would've made a great mother, too. But now I'm thinking maybe we can share some of our experience with young people. Do you know anyone else who needs advice?"

"Not offhand, Dear."

"Well, I'm sure we'll find someone. You can't believe the difference in that young man after he compared an Adams dry to a Silver Doctor wet. I'm sure his life will be different now."

Marjorie smiled and started picking up the breakfast dishes.

[Text from file received from Slim Randles]

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