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			 “Dud Campbell,” Anita said the other night, “what are you getting 
			me for Christmas?” 
 “Now Honey, it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, would it?”
 
 “That means you haven’t bought it yet, doesn’t it?”
 
 “Well, I won’t say I have and I won’t say I haven’t, but, uh, don’t 
			get in that cupboard out in the garage now…”
 
 “I won’t, Honey,” she said, purring.
 
 Ten minutes later, Dud was flipping his coffee cup upright and 
			sliding into his place in the line of scrimmage at the philosophy 
			counter of the Mule Barn truck stop.
 
 “I’m dead meat, guys,” he said.
 
			
			 We inquired as to why this emotional putrefaction should be setting 
			in, and he said, “I don’t have anything for Anita for Christmas and 
			I have no idea what to get her.”
 “Let’s look at this scientifically for a moment,” said Steve. “What 
			kinda stuff does she like?”
 
 “Uh … well … “
 
 “You don’t know, do you?” said Doc.
 
 “Not a clue.”
 
 “Does she read? You can pick up a couple of books.”
 
 “I don’t really know.”
 “Does she knit?” [to top of second 
            column] | 
            
			 “Beats me.”
 “I got it,” said Herb Collins. “You can get her a gift certificate 
			to a store and let her pick out her own gift.”
 “She said if I ever did anything so 
			insensitive, she’d brain me with a skillet.”
 So Dud headed home, only to find the garage door open and Anita 
			standing there holding his brand-new Homelite XL chainsaw. He only 
			had time enough to mumble “Our Father…” when Anita set it down 
			gently and flung herself in his arms.
 
 “Oh Honey, how did you know I wanted a Homelite XL with automatic 
			oiler and a 16-inch bar? I couldn’t help myself. I looked in the 
			cupboard and found it. It’s just what I’ve always wanted.”
 
 “Well, Darlin’,” Dud said in his suavest voice, “I do try to be 
			sensitive to your needs.”
 [Text from file received from 
			Slim Randles] 
			 
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