Sunshine Valley

Settle in and watch the freak show 

     Dillon opened the passenger side door for Evie, “Thanks for goin’ to this meeting with me. I hate these things. All people do is complain.”

     “Is any of it constructive?”

     “Sometimes.” He sighed. “But it’s getting so hard to wade through the crap. I always asked for the minutes and a couple of us review them lookin’ for those gold nuggets.” He paused, “did you sign up for VINELink?”

     “I did that before I left. Do I need to do it in KY too?”

     “Wouldn’t hurt, I don’t think.”

     “Okay.”

     When they got settled at the meeting, the Ledbetter’s walked in. He leaned over to her, whispering in her ear, “settle in and watch the freak show”, kissed behind her ear. “I’ll be back.” He strolled upfront, setting between the county judge executive and a woman she didn’t know. They talked among themselves.  The meeting was called to order old business was either discussed or tabled. 

     As soon as the call was made for new business, Rebecca started. She accused the sheriffs department of harassing her. When asked to explain herself, she outlined the events and the outcomes. The judge executive reported that based on her own testimony, he failed to see how she was being harassed. She was welcome to come to his office and file a formal complaint if she felt that was appropriate. She sat down dejected and visibly upset. 

     “But I’m a teacher,” she jumped back up. “Who has the time to go to traffic school or the money to pay for a ticket?”

     The lady asked, “as a teacher, shouldn’t you be setting the example for our children? You were speeding and got caught. Looks like to me you are missing a very valuable teaching moment with your students.”

     She sat back down more upset than before. A man about the age of Evie’s dad burst through the doors. “Where’s that gol darn no good egg suckin’ sheriff?”

     The judge executive leaned over to Dillon whispering in his ear. He didn’t move. “How can we help you Mr. Bell?” The judge asked.

     He pointed angrily at the sheriff, “sum bitch gave me a ticket and ass hole judge doubled it. I can spend 6 months in jail or pay. Who’s gonna take care of my farm fur 6 months. Sum bitch!”

     “Why did you get a ticket, Mr. Bell?” The woman asked.

     “Burnin’ trash, started a little brush fire.”

     Dillon sighed, “Aug. 4th.”

     “During the burn ban. Oh no!” She hissed. 

     A deputy Evie didn’t know escorted Mr. Bell out of the room. Dillon came back and sat with Evie as the mayor and other city officials moved to the front. 

     “Was that Porter,” she whispered?

     “Yelp.”

     “We’ll work something out with him.”

     “Who’s the lady that was settin’ on the end?”

     “Fire chief.”

     The rest of the evening was more of the same; hostel residents voicing what they felt were legitimate complaints. A couple of them Dillon took notes on. For most, he kept his arm around Evie’s shoulders. Letting the complaints slide by. She noticed that from time to time, Rebecca would look their way glaring at them.

Sunshine Valley