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Cartoon fun from Al Franken and Don "Megaton Man" Simpson... it's the story of Supply-Side Jesus.

Cumbie's adventure, 9/17/2003

I just got a polite talking-to from an interesting young man at the Cumbie's. I couldn't place this guy's accent. It was American, and drawled, but neither "generic" Southern nor Yankee, so it's from someplace outside of my own travels. It actually reminded me strongly of Ricky's voice, with the Maine-ness removed from it but all the squirreliness left in, so maybe that's why it struck me so.

He wanted to buy a cigar, and and lo, they had one behind the counter. To pay for it, he started pulling coins, including a silver dollar, out of his shoe (which also held his ID), but he was a little short. He turned to me: "You got twenty cents?" "Sorry, man," I said, as I say to most strangers who ask me for money. He seemed confused. "You can't check?"

At this point his companion, a woman of about his age, rescued the both of us, by spinning another coin onto the counter. "What's that?" he said. "I believe you'll find it's a quarter," she said. "You believe I'll find it's a quarter", he echoed, contemplating this turn of events, and this especially is a Ricky-ism, actually. While the counterperson rung up the purchase, the fellow, reassembling his shoe, spoke to me again: "Well, do you need twenty cents?" "No I'm all set," I said, with a smile, and the little salute I give to strangers who slow down to let me cross the street.

Preparing to leave, he began a short litany directed at me, mildly chastising me for my miserliness. Something like: "'Cause, you know, the feeling's mutual. I mean, y'know, you gotta help each other out. Well," he concluded, walking out the door, "you're not from where I am. I can tell."

And so it came to pass that I will feel vaguely poopy about this for the rest of the day. Anyway, I made a mental note that should I someday find myself visiting some part of the USA where everyone talks like this guy, and I will think a ha and know at least a little bit about how I'm expected to act under some circumstances.