The next day at work started like a whirlwind and didn’t seem to want to back off until noon.
First, self-appointed town mayor Bernie Phillips turned up in the store, huffing and puffing with regal importance and purpose.
He eyed my outfit of black jeans, peacock-blue T-shirt, and sneakers. He grimaced and looked around the store as if sniffing out other anomalies.
“Frank, what’s going on here?” He barked the question. His belligerence slapped me in the face.
Riley walked out from the back room.
“Is there something we can help you with, Bernie?”
I smiled at him, suddenly realizing how petty and small he was for someone no one voted into office. What power did he really have? None.
The mayor glared at the two pots of pansies in Riley’s hands. Riley was carrying them to the old-fashio
