The Price of Beauty in Strawberry Land by Gerald W. Darnell Read Free Book Online Page B

for the conversation – it has been interesting. Do you have any suggestions on where I might look?   Now, just so we are clear – that is a different question from my original one.   Can we skip the foreplay and try for a Yes or No?”
    “No.”
      “Thank you,” I said turning around on my barstool and trying to get him out of my face.
    Then he added, “But if you’ll leave your name and number where you can be reached, I’ll see that Al gets it.”
    ‘Al’? No wonder I wasn’t getting anywhere, I was using the wrong name!   Anyone with a handle like Alfred E. Dollar would certainly feel better with just a simple – ‘Al’.   How could I have been so stupid!
    “Tell you what. You tell ‘Al’ that my name is Carson and I will be staying at Chiefs Motel in Humboldt for the next couple of days.   If he is interested, have him call me there.”
    “Humboldt?   I thought you said your trailers were in Bolivar?   And what’s your last name? He’ll need that, too.”
    “Here we go with your questions again.   No, I said they were BETWEEN here and Bolivar – not IN Bolivar.   So, just let me worry about the trailer and cars – OK?   And he doesn’t need to know any more than Carson – they’ll know me when he calls.”
    “OK.   I’ll give him the message.” Finally he got his beer breath out of my face.
    “Thanks, it has been a pleasure having this conversation.   We must do it again sometime soon,” I said getting off the barstool and heading toward the door.
    I left while I still had all my parts.   My welcome had been all used up!
     
    ~
    I t was already dark when I made my exit from the Bemis Pool Room, and I headed straight to Chiefs Motel and Restaurant to see if I could get a room.   Chiefs is a popular local hangout located on North 22 nd. in Humboldt.   It is owned and operated by a couple of close friends, Ronnie and Nickie Woodson.   Given the opportunity, you would find it an unusual and terrific place to stay and visit. They offer an indoor restaurant, outside curb service and small cottage rooms for traveling guests. You can’t miss it – it’s located right under the big neon Indian Chief sign!
    Nickie and husband Ronnie have owned and operated Chiefs for as long as I can remember.   He runs the kitchen and does most of the cooking. Nickie handles everything else – including Cottage rentals, the books, the inventory and keeping Ronnie in line.   Ronnie has a ‘wandering eye’, and probably other ‘wandering’ parts too – which does keep Nickie busy.   However, along with a couple of waitresses and Nickie’s supervision, everything always seems to go like clockwork.   She also manages the carhops who serve outside patrons.
     
    Carhops are a different breed – they are either good or just plain terrible.   Tommy was my favorite and had been with Nickie and Ronnie since the beginning.   I guess you would call him the ‘team leader’ carhop.   Whatever you needed – and I mean ‘whatever you needed’ Tommy Trubush was your man.   Everybody knew there was a lot of underage drinking – but Tommy kept it straight and never let it get out of hand.   I have many times seen him put tough guys on the ground, and when he asked someone to leave – they left.   He ran the outside show – no question about it.
    This was a Friday night and Chiefs was busy, as usual.   I managed to slip in the door and grab a barstool before Nickie noticed.   Never looking up, she walked over and asked, “What can I get for you?”
    “A vodka martini – shaken, not stirred.” That made her look up!
    “Carson Reno – it’s great to see you – I think.   And who do you think you are - James Bond?   We don’t do martinis here and you know it.   It’s Jack Daniel’s and Coke for you, I know you.   Remember?”
“Yes I do.   Good to see you too Nickie.   Can I get a room?”
    “Sure thing.   What brings you to town?   Oh, wait – I know.   It’s that