“Fine, thank you,” replied Thelonious, hoping he hadn’t been seen using the Confederate flag as a towel.
“Y’all lookin’ for somethin’ special?”
Thelonious nodded toward the front porch. “Did you do the bear carvings?”
“Nah. Them’s done by a local feller—Jim Hardee. Big Jimbo, we call him.” The old man stared hard at Thelonious, then grinned. “Ah kin see why y’all might be innerested. Seein’ it’s near closin’ time, Ah kin give y’all a discount iff’n you’re lookin’ to buy.”
Although Thelonious wasn’t in the market for a chainsaw-carved bear, he couldn’t help thinking that the purchase of one might make the proprietor more amenable to having his photograph taken. Although not keen on portraiture, Thelonious couldn’t let this opportunity pass. The old man’s face told the history of the Ame
