OPINION? EVERYBODY HAS ONE: A toothy grin can get you by, for a time

— I got some rain. I could almost stop writing and you would be able to fill in the rest. Yes I giggled, gave thanks, slept in my chair and ordered stew for supper. The rain didn’t last long but it was wonderful, and now things look good again.

I am worried about Harold. I saw him at the feed store and he looked really bad. He appeared to be bloated and his hands shook like Jell-O. His eyes were red and sorta runny, and I was sure he was gonna need help up the one little step into the office to pay his bill. I inquired about his health and he assured me he was fine, said his missus was off to California to visit and he was trying to keep up with the youngens, said it was a job no man should ever be saddled with and, if he was to do life over, it wasn’t gonna happen to him again!

I asked him if there was anything I could help withand he said not if I wasn’t a lawyer or a banker. I sure am concerned because he has a house full of little kids and raises some fat hogs for a living. You know corn is high and kids are cheap! What in the world would you do to help a man mired down like Harold?

I went on to the coffee emporium and ate a slab of pie with the fellers sitting around the round table. They are the wisest of all men and, if you don’t believe that, you can just ask them. Leroy had the attention of all as he told about a race horse he was gonna buy interest in, when he could afford it, and become rich. Ray bought his coffee when he left because he was saving all his cash for the race horse.

Charlie was just grumpy and sour. He sold all his stock about three years ago and has been mad ever since. That old man is worn out and can hardly get out of his truck and then walkbecause of legs that have been overused and abused. I was sure the rain would make all the men happy, but I was wrong again!

My close relative is fussing about the yard fence. She has declared the posts will be replaced and the wire stretched tight before the end of this year. I don’t know how it is gonna happen. Me and the male offspring are sure busy with farming and ranching stuff. If she would just sorta squint her eyes, she wouldn’t even be able to tell the posts were broken at the ground. I suppose she also wants T posts instead of cedar ones and probably will insist on something a little fancier than hog wire.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, a smile will work wonders on all you meet. It even works on your close relative. I am sure a big old toothy grin makes folks happier than a frown and it don’t cost as much as a roll of fancy wire! She thinks I agreed with the suggestion, and I won’t say different until I am forced!

Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 09/12/2012