|
 Doc
hadn’t even finished loading his coffee with fake sugar before Steve
piped up.
“I think it’s disgusting and weird and unnatural and it should be
outlawed!” the tall cowboy said, coming to rest at the philosophy
counter of the Mule Barn truck stop.
“Aw Steve,” said Doc, “the coffee isn’t that bad.”
“Coffee? Nay, I say unto you, Doc. It ain’t the coffee … it’s them
Academy Awards on the television. You see them? All them
good-looking women Scotch-taping themselves into those dresses so
they almost stay on? Those weird guys they’re with who only shave on
Tuesdays?”
“And this makes you angry?”
“Sure does, Doc. Those folks make a lot more money
than I do and all they have to do is dress up and talk to those red
carpet cameras.”
“Those were two months ago, Steve,” said Doc.
“I know,” Steve said, “I recorded them.”
“Well, Steve,” said Dud, “we can do just as good as they can. Stand
up.”
Steve looked around and then stood slowly. Dud picked up a bottle of
Tabasco sauce and, using it as a microphone, turned to the breakfast
crowd in the Mule Barn.
“Good morning, folks, and we’re so happy you could join us here on
KRUD this morning to welcome our list of celebrities. Oh, look, it’s
Steve, the pride of farrier life and heavy anvils. Steve, wherever
did you get that outfit?” [to top of second
column] |
“Well,” said Steve, grinning,
“it’s a creation of Levi Strauss, and please note the genuine brass
rivets.”
“Give us a twirl there, cowboy.” And he did, to great applause.
“And your headwear today, Steve, that would be what … Stetson?”
“Yessir. A genuine John B. Stetson original. Five ex beaver fur
felt.”
“The sweat stains?”
“Those were added later, actually, Dudley. A genuine cow pen fillip
to offset the otherwise stunning look of my entire ensemble.”
“So as not to overwhelm the onlookers, I suppose?”
“Precisely. We don’t want ordinary people to think they’ll never
achieve this look, you see.”
“An admirable pursuit,” Dud said.
“Noblesse oblige, I believe,” said Steve.
“Not until lunch,” said Loretta, topping off the coffee mugs.
“Breakfast special is bacon and a short stack.”
[Text from file received from
Slim Randles]
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