Another report card from the gas company

by Pat Laster

One day last week, I made a quick trip to Arkadelphia. Kid Billy had left his choir folder on the piano when his Thanksgiving break was done. It was my suggestion to leave it there, thinking I would play over some of the music while he sang his part. Never happened.
On the way through Benton, I stopped at Goodwill to see if they had a solid blue tie and a solid red tie, which he said he could use. I forgot until just now that he also asked for a gold long-sleeved dress shirt, or I would have looked for that, too.
Next stop was Payless, where I purchased two pair of brown shoes—one less dressy but laced, one darker but slip-on. Because his socks in the wash were such rags, I also selected a 6-pack of tube socks and a like amount of low-cut ones. Making arrangements with the clerk to return with the pair of shoes and pack of socks that he didn’t want, I drove off south.
Just so happened that when I got to the Caddo River—our traditional calling landmark—I found him in Caddo, the HSU cafeteria. He directed me to a meeting place. But, saying he had food waiting for him, he politely took all the purchases without even looking at them, thanked me kindly and directed me off the campus. So much for returns. It’s a good thing I had a $15-off coupon!
While that close to Bismarck, I called a writer friend who is soon to move to Durham, NC, and asked her if she could meet me at Cracker Barrel for lunch. “I’ll see you in a couple minutes,” she crowed, but it turned out to be a few more than that. I browsed at the lovely (expensive) items while I waited.
We had the best visit, the longest visit, the most personal visit in all our friendship, which dates back to when KB and I lived in Arkadelphia during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
On the way out of the restaurant, we passed a young serviceman sitting alone. I stopped, stuck out my hand—which he took—and said, “Thank you for your service.” He smiled and thanked me back.
Remember the chide from the gas company about my using waaaay more gas for heating than my “efficient neighbors?” I emailed them, but got nowhere. Last weekend, I received another letter giving me a “GREAT” and two smiley faces. I had used 80% less gas this month, only two CCF. “Efficient” neighbors averaged ten CCF and “All neighbors” used 19. My rank—out of 100 neighbors—was #6. Their suggestions for energy saving: check air filters each month, seal air leaks, be smart about dish washing—only full loads, use air-dry setting, avoid special cycles like ‘rinse only.’
Happy 49th birthday (on December 3) to my second son Eric, a career highway department employee, who lives in Hot Springs with wife Lisa and daughter Lainee. His son James lives in Little Rock. Color me proud, proud, proud.
Final note on the lentil-sweet potato fiasco: even the outside cats wouldn’t eat it! Am I gonna gripe at that gal who submitted the recipe in the first place!