Delbert McLain popped in to the Mule Barn the other day for coffee. He's our local chamber of commerce. Delbert's job, so we gather, is to invite huge industries to set up here, give all of us jobs, and turn the place into someplace we won't really like.
Fortunately, he's not very good at it, but we admire his trying so hard.
He and the guys at the funeral parlor are just about the only people who wear neckties in the valley. They buy them in the city.
“You look … celebratory,” Herb said.
“Thank you, Herbert,” Delbert said. “It's this new idea I have. You know how that town in Pennsylvania has that Ground Hog Day, where they pull some big rat out of a hole to see if he sees his shadow?”
We did.
“Well, I don't know why we can't do it here.”
“No ground hogs here.”
“Prairie dogs.”
Steve was looking pensive, which is hard on an old cowboy.
“Del, you really think a prairie dog cares if he can see his own shadow?”
“Why does a prairie dog stick his head out of a hole?” Del said. “To look for snakes. I figure we can call him Pete the Prairie Dog, and have National Prairie Dog Day, and each February, we can goose ol' Pete with a cattle prod or something to make him jump out of his hole and look for snakes.”
“And if he doesn't see one?” said Doc.
“Well, then we'll have good fishing this coming summer.”
We looked confused.
“See,” Delbert said, “we can promote our local fishing and our local prairie dogs at the same time.”
Herb looked up. “Del, we don't get snakes out around here until May, so ol' Pete is never gonna see one.”
“Ta-DA!” Delbert said, spreading his arms in triumph. “Which means … what?”
“That there's always going to be good fishing here in the summer?” Doc said.
“Your honor, I rest my case!”
Steve raised his cup. “Here's to Pete the Prairie Dog and to chambers of commerce everywhere! May they never be hampered by reality!”
Brought to you by Sun Dog Days, soon to be a minor motion picture. Buy the book at www.slimrandles.com.
