A chicken in your pot

At Tuesday's breakfast meeting, Josh Rugby, the formerly proud sports editor of the Snapsville Postscipt, was first to arrive, and with some significant news.

In a, so called, cost cutting move, Josh had been asked by the newspaper's management to clean out his desk, as well as two closets and three filing cabinets that he had inherited. A hold was also placed on his faithful Apple computer and his camera. Yes, in the words of the infamous 'Donald' he was indeed, fired.

The notification had occurred this past Friday after 4:30 PM. and was not entirely unexpected.

On Saturday, he hired Fern and Deana to organize and tidy his stuff and transport it to his small apartment.

Hiram was surprised at the news but not awed. He knew eccentric 'Ole Man Witherspoon' the 95-year old owner of the Postscript. In fact, the Hope Cafe was the venue for Mr. Walter Witherspoon's 88th birthday gala.

Back then, after a heaping bowl of Stormy's Rainy Days and Mondays banana pudding, it was nap time and Snapsville's most renowned journalist slept in a booth, on the premises for an hour.

As a young cub reporter, Witherspoon, had covered the Hoover inauguration, in January, 1929. Yes, that's Herbert Clark Hoover, the 31st President.

Widely attributed to Hoover was the slogan, "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage." This was to show an image of prosperity. Unfortunately, the image was short-lived as the stock market crashed in October, 1929.

Yet, Hiram and Josh admired Hoover. Hoover attempted to refuse his Presidential salary and wound up donating it to charity. Also, the Inauguration was based on a Bible verse from Proverbs:

Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law,
happy is he.

What about Josh? For now, he would drive a cab.

Tidying up the loose ends

"Transparent" is not a word that Hiram uses very much. Yet, the candidate is aware of the expanding definition---especially as it relates to political matters.

For instance, members of Congress are likely to keep their peers, the public, and the media, in the dark, when they introduce legislation. Likewise, a president seldom reveals the details of treaties that have to be ratified.

These are examples of the absence of 'transparency'. And what about this procedure called earmarks? A Dutch painter, Mr. Van Gogh, had a very realistic earmark.

Hiram is feeling a bit guilty for not being absolutely candid about this information.

"Back when we had the fire at the diner and Officer Jimmy Adair caught Leroy 'Arson' Carson, red handed, the question that remained was, who paid Carson?

"Now, we know. It was my quirky brother Steve's first wife. Lilly is her name and she is doing time."

Hiram was near tears.

"Also, the plan we had to buy the newspaper, the Snapsville Postscript, has fallen through. The new owner appears to be the New York Times.

"How's that for transparency?"
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Welcome to Volume Two

Welcome to Volume Two in the saga of Hiram J Hope and his quest for the US presidency. I have become somewhat lackadaisical in reporting this matter, but will attempt to communicate on a weekly basis commencing Saturday, December 18th.

From all the gang: Hiram, Stormy, Herkimer, Steve, Faith, Foster, Josh, Reverend Ross, Bambi, Sinbad, John Shumaker, Fern and Deana, here's wishing you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.