I walked into The Pour House Cafe this morning and looked around for Leonard. I have been busy lately and haven’t seen him around. To tell the truth I have been hoping I wouldn’t run into him after our last time together when he showed me his song in progress about indoor toilets.
I strolled over to the round table in the corner and the usual crowd was there. Jelly, my big buddy, smiled and said, “Have a seat, Preacher, sit down and tell us something.”
I looked around the table and said my “how do’s ” to the two other fellows seated there.
“Well, Elvis, ” I said to the short, bald man directly in front of me.
“How’s your wife doing?” His wife had been sick with the flu.
Elvis was named Elvis about the time the other Elvis was in Jr. High. The name was all that they shared. He was short, bald and couldn’t carry a tune if it had handles on it.
“Preacher, she’s really been sick, but she”s better now. I stayed home from church yesterday she was so sick. I was so concerned I took my cell phone to the golf course with me when I went golfing yesterday afternoon. Yessir, I told her not to hesitate to call if she needed anything and soon as I finished the round I’d be right home.”
Jelly laughed and shook his head.
“He’s so sensitive. Ain’t he, Preacher.”
“To a fault,” I said, “to a fault.”
About that time Leonard came through the door with a tall ,thin longhaired man with a beard that Santa Claus would have been proud of. He looked over our way and broke into a grin.
“Hey, Preacher, you’re just the man I wanted to see. This here is Ben Willit. He used to be on the Opry.”
Ben touched Leonard’s arm and shook his head.
“…er worked at the Opry.”
Ben shook his head in agreement.
“Never was on the Opry,” he said, “I was one of the guys who used to pull the curtains ‘fore they was automatic.”
“Well, anyway, he knows the Opry. What I wanted to say, Preacher, is that I won’t be needing you to help me write my song after all. Ben here is gonna help me. You don’t mind do you?”
I looked at Leonard then at Ben and said, “Well, as much as I was looking forward to it I can see where you’d want a man with connections. Don’t think a thing about it, Leonard.”
“Thanks, Preacher. You see, Ben I told you the Preacher wouldn’t get mad. Oh, er, Preacher…you’re not expecting any royalties off it are you?”
“Leonard,” I said, “No, sir. Anything you get you deserve.”
“Preacher, you’re a good man.”
