seymoure

Out Among the Economy

“Truth stands, even if there be no public support.

It is self-sustained.”
-Mohandas Gandhi

We drove into Albion only to find they had no dining place whatsoever. They were told that the next restaurant wasn’t within 30 miles of them.

They ended up going to the grocery store (that was itself meager to say the least) and buying some steaks and chops. They also picked up some locally grown corn and green beans.

On the way back to the parking space Henderson laughed and then announced, “People I can’t believe we have committed such a sin!”

Hugo looked at his comrade and asked, “What horrible thing have we done?”

“We’re in Idaho,” the detective said, “And we aren’t eating Potatoes!”

Laughter burst out all around. I was glad to see it. We needed it.

I stopped the bus, “I’m going back!”

They all laughed harder as I turned the gargantuan driver’s nightmare and headed back to the store.

Larry came back as we waited outside, and said, meekly, “I am horrified to inform you of this,” He held out a meager paper bag, “But these are not locally grown. He said the big potato farms are owned by corporations and he can’t afford how big a lot they have to sell. So he buys from his same supplier who sells him soap and breakfast cereal.”

We might have laughed, but I think we all felt a little sad about the universality of that situation. So many parts of our lives was dictated by multinational conglomerates, that soon we won’t even think of little homegrown shops.

Well, at least book stores will always be local. The little mom and pop bookstore was a gracious little comfort in any economy.

We were startled when we drove into the lot.

The place was a ghost town. The cars were all gone; the banners were no longer flying.

The wind played with the only clue that anyone had ever been there. Some trash, that had gotten up-picked up, scuttered across the asphalt.

Then we saw the cause.

Two State Troopers were walking from the Office. They saw us and sauntered over to the bus.

As they rapped on the door I could see, in the distance, Lundorff’s scowling face peering out his office door at us.

This would be interesting.

Back to the Beginning

Continue on to Chapter 34