Welcome To Hillnutt!
For the one or two of you who may have read my previous post (if one of those folks was you Mom, thanks!), then you have some inkling as to what this article is about. Having become rather disenchanted with today’s political climate, the lowering of standards of basic communication, and the apparent lack of interest in simply sharing ideas and information, I decided that I would share my ideas using a different route. Instead of directly stating my opinions or writing a “step-by-step” or “Top 10” guide for making you think like I do, I decided to share my thoughts and ideas through the use of story. True, this doesn’t fit within a meme or a 30-second soundbite. Nor is it supposed to. Hell, I’m not even sure where on Medium is the best place to post this. But I like a good story and I would hope that there is a segment of the population that is still willing to take the time to sit back, read, and think without their thumbs getting in the way. I would like to think that there are some folks who don’t mind being exposed to new information without fear of retribution if you happen to disagree. So I decided to create a little town (Hillnutt) that just might contain a hint of something familiar. And from this little town blossomed a new political party (the Pluribus Party) whose primary focus was to identify areas of common interest, be flexible in who fits under the umbrella, and provide a conduit for sharing information so that people can decide on their own what is important, not based on the dictates of a well-honed political machine or excruciatingly detailed party platform. With a sprinkling of humor, it is my hope that upcoming posts will meet these goals. I actually started this personal project a couple of years ago in spits and spurts. It gives my mind a creative outlet. And now I’m taking it to the next level. Feel free to tag along on this personal journey. And thus begins our story…
An old late-model sedan rumbles to a stop at one of two red lights on a stretch of pavement known as Main Street. And while the car has a ding or two and a couple of places in which the paint is peeling, the occupants have more pressing concerns to think about. Inside the stationary vehicle, Buddy Burnett’s mind is racing a mile a minute. Even though Mr. Burnett makes a decent living as a mechanic, spare funds are not exactly a luxury. And now he is being tasked with having to shell out a few extra bucks to take care of an emergent need for his precocious nine-year old son Timmy. Unfortunately, little Timmy got his pecker stuck in a Coke bottle which necessitated a trip to Robert (“Dr. Bob”) Morrow’s medical clinic just two blocks ahead. And while the father will do almost anything for the son, the upcoming copay and uncertainty of the bill to follow provides an unwanted stress to an already creeping feeling that the ol’ proverbial hump just got a little harder to get over.
As Mr. Burnett waits for the light to change, if one were to take a right at the intersection and proceed to the corner of Elm and Second Street, you would come face to face with the Bryton County Library. A generally nondescript building by nature, the library has always bristled with the hopes of generations. Before the age of cyberspace, its shelves provided a glimpse of both fictional and nonfictional worlds, cultures, and general goings on. While these hallowed halls have seen their share of head librarians (Mrs. Emma Meadows held the position for almost thirty year before an unfortunate card catalogue accident ended her career), the current holder of the title belongs to Miss Mary Lynne. Often referred to as “Library Mary,” Miss Lynne always has a smile to go along with her caring heart. Children and adults alike seem to accept her reading recommendations. Her memory for authors and quotations are unequaled and she has always accepted anyone walking through the front door. Despite being a young single mother, she is always polite to any patron, has an angel’s patience, and is often described by the menfolk as the perfect “girl next door” (however, it is rumored that she has an STP sticker tattooed on her ass). As you will see later, she played a pivotal role in how the Pluribus Party came up with the motto of “Don’t Eat The Gravel.” But even with all of these positive attributes, Miss Lynne can’t help but experience a gnawing angst that behind the cheery smiles and laughter of her young visitors are minds that are not reaching their potential, the product of a stale educational system more concerned with appearances than true scholastic (and life) achievement.
Despite the aforementioned concerns, the people here are truly blessed and find comfort in the intricacies of everyday life. I don’t have to tell most of you about Hillnutt. It’s our little town. But for the uninformed, let me fill you in. We are your typical small town community, wrapped in Americana and the traditional way of life. The pace may be a little slow but that’s the way we like it. We go to the movies on the weekend, support our high school sports (go Chargin’ Hamsters!), and the quest for sex is never-ending. We like food made from scratch (you really must stop by Marvin & Kay’s Kountry Kitchen for their world-famous Corn Holes), revving our cars, making paper mache spider monkeys for our elders, and passing the time away with good gossip. We spend a disproportionate amount of time at Walmart and stare at strangers when there’s nothing better to do. Hillnutt is a place to grow up, be a kid and, if not careful, committed. It is a place where the waitresses still call you “Hon” and offer you a handjob if you are having a tough day. I’m proud to be a part of this little slice of Heaven.
Even though we may not have all the amenities of the big city, we are proud of some of the self-generated entertainment in town. Our local radio station (HNTT 87.9 AM — “The Nutt”) is a central component in the lives of the townsfolk. Each day we get a daily devotional, farm report, weather, and plenty of music that speaks to the hard-working citizens of the community. And for the groovy youngsters, rock music is played 7:00–11:00 p.m. each night (except for Sundays).
And can you believe that we even have our own television station? Yes, indeed! In cooperation with the Media/Communications Department at Bryton County Community College, Hillnutt has its own public access station (HNNT, Channel 61) that airs local programming three days a week. Being a small town and all, it is hard to continuously update our programming so a set selection of shows is aired each month. Why invest in a DVR if you know you have all month to watch it? As an example, here is the programming schedule for May 2018:
All in all, there are about 3,400 of us who call Hillnutt home. This doesn’t include the couple hundred or so who live south of town in the unincorporated Clump subdivision. While most of us here have had our share of bad times, it seems the folks who live in “The Clump” keep getting their asses kicked. Most are on some kind of state and/or federal assistance though many will take on an odd job or two to provide a little spending money. Kenny Stivey, a Clump resident, can often be seen walking the backroads and local businesses in search of aluminum cans. Kenny is not stupid. Far from it. He was actually on a path to attend Bryton County Community College when he suddenly developed seizures. Medical restrictions prevented him from driving and, since both parents were disabled, he had trouble regularly attending. After having missed several days of classes, he was forced to withdraw. With hopes dashed, he suffered through a period of depression that many thought would be the end of him. However, he didn’t give up. He saved enough cans and mowed enough yards that he was able to buy a used motorcycle from Howard Sterling (a local Walmart greeter) and reenrolled in school. But being from the Clump seems to cast shadows no matter your resolve. Two months before receiving his associates degree in Deep Fryer Maintenance from Bryton County Community College, he severely wrenched his back while trying a wrestling move he saw on TV, making even the slightest of movements excruciating. The pain medications helped to a degree…until his prescription ran out. With no relief in sight and no money in his pocket, Kenny began to “borrow” things from the neighbors. However, nothing borrowed was returned but instead sold at garage sales, Ebay, etc. The money he received from such endeavors was used to buy opioids on the street. Before long, he was hooked and a life of addiction soon followed. And while I said he was smart, the people Kenny hung around with weren’t. On at least three separate occasions, Kenny was arrested for illegal possession of drugs and twice for possession of stolen property. He was always convicted on every count, serving months at a time in county jail. We all did what we could to help Kenny go straight and, most of the time, it seemed he genuinely wanted to get out of the devilish cycle he had been living. I tried to encourage the judge to consider alternative treatments and rehab but my attempts fell on deaf ears. As Kenny informed me one day, the thought of being bored and in chronic pain is more terrifying than jail. To be young and hopeless is a sentence far more severe than county lockup. Many of young Mr. Stivey’s neighbors would agree.
I don’t want to give the impression that all is doom and gloom here. Even Kenny Stivey would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. There’s a lot to be proud of here in Hillnutt, with plenty of good people with feel good stories. For example, Kristy Sue Dean (owner of “Kristy Sue’s Classic Cuts”) reported that last Tuesday was an ordinary day like any other when she went into the local Git ‘N Skidaddle to buy a pack of smokes. Thinking she had nothing to lose, she asked also for a scratch-off ticket. “I never win anything”, stated Dean, “so I didn’t even think nothing about it until I got home and emptied my pockets”. Grabbing a penny, she scratched off the gold circle expecting another “Try Again” message. But not this time. “I nearly shit my pants!”, exclaimed an excited Dean. “There it was in big, bold letters…WINNER!…it took me about 10 minutes to calm down!” After gaining her composure, Dean called her husband at work to tell him the good news. “He was excited too!” The prize that was revealed on that lucky ticket…a free 32 oz. fountain drink with chips. “Man, real people really do win”, added a beaming Dean.
Traditionally, Hillnutt has not been the most diverse place on earth. However, we do try to be culturally sensitive to those with views other than our own. For the past several years, the Juan Rodriguez family has lived in Hillnutt and he is considered by many to be the best mechanic in town. About two years ago, the First United Methodist Church of Hillnutt thought it would be welcoming and inclusive to do something nice for the Rodriguez family on May 5 each year. Thus, the annual Hillnutt Cinco de Mayo celebration was born. On that day, the church holds a raffle on the Saturday before May 5. Proceeds from the raffle are used to buy fruit baskets, socks, and embroidered tacos. When presented with such gifts, Mr. Rodriguez just smiles, nods his head, and says “Si.” At the end of the day, many citizens feel a sense of purpose and gratitude that they could help their “Mexican neighbors” celebrate their cultural holiday. And while he is truly appreciative of his neighbors thoughtfulness, Mr. Rodriguez doesn’t have the heart to inform them that he’s actually from Puerto Rico.
We like to take care of business ourselves. That’s just the way we prefer it. But when the rules change and politics are placed over people, that really gets our drawers in a wad. When the results of a recent election began to turn residents against one another, enough was enough. We were no longer neighbors and instead became blocs of opinion. We became disconnected and deep down, pined for the days of recognizing our common bonds yet assured enough that we could have and express our own opinions without fear of ridicule or abandonment. We were missing something and sure as hell didn’t like it. We decided to take matters into our own hands. The political landscape was about to change. Thus, the Pluribus Party was born.
Next post: The Hillnutt Pluribus Party
