Sunshine Valley

Rollin’ that apple

    “Dad!” Evie called as she walked through the door, grocery bags in hand. She went to the kitchen and started fixin’ breakfast. 

     “Mornin’ humming bird,” Jack kissed her on the cheek before refillin’ his coffee cup. “That boy joinin’ us?”

     She smiled, “not this mornin’.”

     He sat at the table, “why do you always bring grub?”

     “Just helpin’ out dad. Would you like me to stop?”

     “I got a few dollars you know.”

     “I know. Can’t I spoil my dad?”

     He held up his cup, “rurn me.” Setting it softly back on the table. “What do you remember about Carl and Rose?”

     She looked at her dad quizzically for a moment. “For Dillon’s sake, I despise them. Carl was a smelly drunk. Rose seemed stoned all the time. I don’t know if she really was or if she had just checked out of life.”

     “Found out recently that Dillon got blamed for his maw’s shape.”

     Her heart sank, “are you kidden?” He shook his head sadly. “We both knew they were mean to him.”

     Jack slammed his fist on the table. Causing Evie to jump. “I should’ve fought harder for him.”

     “Dad, if it makes you feel any better, Dillon told me; crappy as it was, he wouldn’t change his childhood.” Jack looked dumbfounded. “Honestly. He said he wouldn’t be the man he is right now.”

     Jack sighed, “he has grown into a respectable man. He’s done great things with the sheriff’s office. Did you know, he got a governors award for how clean he runs that office?”

     “No, he never told me that.”

     “Yelp. He was asked to head up some high-fluten drug task force but he turned it down.”

     “By the governor?” Jack just shrugged. Evie handed him a plate. “Wait a minute, he got pensive when I used a word that he didn’t know. Referrin’ to it as one of my,” she used air quotes, “‘college words.’ And here the man is gettin’ honored left and right for being a rock star sheriff.”

     “The people of Sunshine Valley really don’t like him. But they keep votin’ for him because they know he does right. He will write you a ticket just the same as he would anyone. He has proven to us that he doesn’t play favorites. Unless som’em bad happens, he can be sheriff as long as he wants it. There’s a rumor in the mill that he’s groomin’ Bradley. Sad part is, people think Bradley is a pushover. It’s this old man’s opinion that Bradley won’t win an election.” He sighed.