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[seymoure]

7.

“The Fifth Estate”

The giant metropolis of Setonville had 7 paved streets. Four of them went east to west, two went north to south. Also north to south was county highway 56, but nobody counted that as part of the town, since nobody ever stopped as they passed on 56.

The town itself had been recognized by the post office only about 35 years ago when Gus Seton (the richest man in town and therefore the one who decided to put his name on the place) submitted the name “Setonville” for approval. Up till then everyone had called the place Perido, for the creek that ran just to the south of the town.

In fact it wasn’t till the mail started arriving that most people knew about the new name. Most folks didn’t care much. But the Barsimmon family kicked up a bit of a fuss. Even after two streets were renamed “Bar” and “Simmon,” so that they could intersect. Now the other street that went North to South (the one not named Bar) was named Barsimmon. It sounded dumb to most folks, but in a small town street names aren’t really that important.

There was no city square, defying the tradition of small Midwestern towns, but sometimes people with money want to keep things small. Small things were easier to control.

The city hall was in the former Farmer’s Grain Exchange on Simmon
Street. There hadn’t been anything in that building for a while. Not since the Exchange had moved over to Hasterville, thanks to the manipulation of old man Haster.

Tooley and Pappy pulled up outside the building, and saw no less than 5 media trucks. One all the way from Des Moines.

Pappy winced.

This was not going to be one of those days that goes into a “happy memories” book.

Suddenly he saw faces pressed against the window panes. People with microphones in their hands were looking out at him.

Oh, joy.

© 2005 by C. Wayne Owens