Slim Randles

“Shore is nice this time a-year,” Windy said, smiling at those gathered. “Minds me of years ago back, you know? When we was young.”

Windy, visiting from the ranch, had pulled up a stool so he was partially blocking the hallway entrance – also known as the “escape route” down at the Rest of Your Life retirement home. This made it rather difficult for Mabel, who has to use a walker, and Pop Walker, who is on a cane on good days, and crutches when the weather gets cold. This was a crutch day.

The only one ambulatory enough to evade the coming lecture was Minnie Perkins. No walker or cane or wheelchair. But that was okay, because Minnie smiles at everything and enjoys hearing others talk. Even Windy Wilson. She can’t remember what she had for breakfast, but who can?

“Fall is plumb fell, yessir, that’s for certain sure,” Windy said, turning slightly and extending his legs to fend off any crutch attempt. “You know, a-course, why the trees all turn them pretty colors, right? See, Minnie does. Wellsir, what happens is Mama Nature jest shuts down the supply a-chloroform to them leaves so they can’t turn green anymore. And without that chloroform, well, if you’re a leaf, most as well kick the bucket and fall and get raked up.”

Windy looked around at those he was educating and smiled.

“And them clouds? Them autumn clouds? Ain’t they somethin’? All spread out in streaky wonderments full of cumulosities this time a-year. Hardly a rain in ‘em, but look at how they jest kinda hang there. Ain’t that right, Minnie.”

Minnie smiled and nodded, enthusiastically.

“Where you goin’, Mabel? Why, I was jest settlin’ in for a nice discussion a how things were around here when I was a youngster. Whazzat? Oh yeah, kinda forgot you was older’n me, Mabel. Why, I betcha you remember when it snowed here ‘long ‘bout county fair time …”

Minnie nodded. Mabel groaned. Pop fell asleep while looking for the tv remote.

Life can be interesting down at the Rest of Your Life.

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