A few gentlemen are peering over a notice in the square. One is able to read, and his finger pours over the words. His eyes widen at the announcement.
"Huh. Seems that funny little Chinaman's openin' his house for th'town t'see. House-warming, it says."
"Who in hell would want to go to house-warming?" His friend says. "'specially that of a Chinaman? I mean, he's th'only doctor in town, sure, but openin' his house? Seems queer to me."
"s'office s'there," the third man mutters.
"So we see his office," the first man says. "Too far out of town for most, plus he comes in every day. Hey wait..." His fingers pours over the note again. "A public garden," he says. "Gardens fer th'town t'look at. Who needs that!"
"Dunno," the third man mutters. "But I might go."
"You ain't!" his friends yell in unison.
"Sure I am," the other man mumbles. "I'll go anyplace that offers a 50 dollar prize fer a talent show." He puffs up his chest. "I'm gonna do toe-shoein' and see if'n I win."
"Fifty dollars?" the first man says. "Where'd he get fifty dollars?"
"A hundred," the man responds. "Seems th'same prize s'bein' handed out fer flowers. That and th' flowers get planted in th'garden with th'name of th'winner." He shrugs.
The two men look at each other. "Maybe we'll go see about this house-warmin' after all..."
Return to the Archive