We talked about the usual stuff at the apex of the Amen Corner last night. It was hot, the cold front won’t get here for another day or two, the quirky tunes on Pandora that the restaurant plays in the background, the events of the day, Old Jim’s continual battle with the air conditioning duct that is located directly above his favorite stool.

“God Damned thing. It is ninety degrees outside and I am freezing my ass off.”

Along the way we talked about Joan Rivers and the fast food protests

“My sources in Detroit reported that Food Specialty Workers had put down their spatulas and blocked Mack Avenue for a half hour.”

Jim scowled. He lived in the Motor City for a while, and that is where he met Chanteuse Mary when she was playing in a piano bar.

“Actually, they didn’t put anything down. They were bused in,” said Jon-Without. I marveled at how positively Gubernatorial he looked in his dark suit, brilliant white shirt and trademark Soapy Williams bow tie. I was wearing white trousers and aloha shirt to celebrate the end of summer, since I am going to have to put this stuff away pretty soon. But not yet.

“They must have been disappointed that Joan died. That was all I heard about today on the news. That and robot hamburger machines.”

“Well, it was a pretty good day for politicians down at the farm,” I said. “Good news. The Culpeper Clarion Bugle electronic edition said that the ex-Mayor’s legal problems appear to be over.”

“That is always pleasant,” growled Jim.

“Not for billable hours,” said Barrister Jerry, sliding onto the stool next to me.

“It is for him,” I said. “Last week he got a suspended ten-day sentence to his own former slammer for the $250-a-second fine for an inappropriate hug. This week, the City attorney announced that the defamation suit brought against him by the former Town Manager for $25,000 was dismissed.”

“That wasn’t the real story,” said Jerry, who was eyeing the fried chicken and lima beans on the menu. “What happened was the settlement was done behind closed doors between opposing counsels. What was he getting sued for?”

“Yeah, it wasn’t as good as it sounds. We taxpayers are going to pay for the deal through Culpeper’s insurance carrier. The paper reported that “the parties have resolved all matters in dispute.””

“That is just the dollar amount. What was the issue?”

“The paper said that the suit was based on the Mayor’s comment that the Town Manager had been sleeping with three married members of the Town Council.”

“Ouch.”

“The former Mayor could not be reached for comment, and I don’t blame him.”

“Time to keep your mouth shut and wait out the election cycle.”

“I completely agree. So, it was a much better day for local politics than it was for the former Governor of Virginia and his wife down in Richmond. I think they are still married, though by the end of that trial none of us here in the Old Dominion were really sure.”

Anyway, those were just two of the legal matters under review. In more important events, Jim was sticking with Budweiser, Jon-Without was concentrating on clear beverages, and Counsel for the drinking Public was trying an Angry orchard hard cider to go with his chicken, mashed potatoes and beans

I stuck with the happy white, since I was generally happy myself, and relieved not to find myself governor of anything at all.

Copyright 2014 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com
Twittter: @jayare303