Page 32 - November 2021 Issue.indd

stickers in a letter holder by his front So what did that sticker mean? There this was her sarcastic way of thumbing
door: one that touted his membership in were so many angles to consider. Was her nose at the latter-day Bohemian
the NRA even though he never actually she distraught? And if so, why adver- causeheads that congregated there in self-
belonged to the organization; one cele- tise that fact? Colt had been through the appointed unwashed glory even though
brating the 400th anniversary of James- typical ups and downs in his life: deaths their parents were respected lawyers and
town, where he could not decide if he was of friends and family members, health accountants in cities just a few hours
more excited to meet the President of the scares, defeats, disappointments, but had away. Or maybe she was one of those
United States or James Earl Jones; and one done his best to move on and present hipster dilettantes herself and the line
that he had procured from eBay, possibly himself as chipper as he could in public. was an inside joke that would make her
illicitly, that bore a striking resemblance Maybe the driver of that Nissan wanted smile haughtily whenever she thought of
to the arrowhead logo found on all offi - people to know about her heartache. But it or moreso whenever someone didn’t
cial National Park Service vehicles. Colt that would be too easy, too direct. Bumper get it. Colt supposed momentarily it was
wanted one badly but couldn’t find it in stickers are seldom literal. possible that this woman was another

stores. He assumed a civilian like himself Lost Cause wanderer like himself, that
It was tongue-in-cheek, he thought. If the
was not supposed to have one and that she meant the bumper sticker to be
bumper sticker had declared, “So mad I’m
he was the benefactor of a disgruntled interpreted in equally opposing ways.
seeing red,” then few would have given
Department of the Interior employee She too was looking for something that
it a second thought. Well, other than
dumping classified contraband on the could not be found. Something from
to steer clear of that car, Colt decided.
black market. He would gladly put that the past, something that may not have
But the very point of bumper stickers
emblem on his car, perhaps on the driver ever tangibly existed, some romanticized
is to attract attention so that could not

side door, but then would always wonder figment they both imagined blissfully as
possibly be the reason. Had the driver
if he would be apprehended during his they struggled with the present and the
thought up the phrase herself and had
next jaunt through a park and interro- future. She was humorously yet subtly
it printed just for her? Perhaps she had
gated under a dangling, naked lightbulb advertising this serious condition in the
styled herself as Big Woman on Campus
in a visitor center back room. hopes that someone would understand
at some generic liberal arts college and
her pained existence and fill the void, or

It’s a Good Thing We Have Eight Branches
ĠÏċÍ ŀł 4íĐā oKąʼnʼnʼn”æ­ Tı³ā c³āąíæ”ß Dí”æąʼn

Housebreaking accident.
Living room needs a new rug.

Teething.
Have to buy new shoes.
Sharp puppy nails.
Need to buy a new couch.

Easton - 274 N. Washington Street - (410) 819-8686
Ridgely - 204A East 6th Street - (410) 634-2071
Centreville - 115 Coursevall Drive - (410) 758-8747
Queenstown - 7101 Main Street - (410) 827-8881
Grasonville - 3701 Main Street - (410) 827-6101
Just the bank you need. TM Chester - 1423 Main Street - (410) 643-2258
Stevensville - 101 Main Street - (410) 604-0881
www.QueenstownBank.com Church Hill - 1005 Sudlersville Road - (410) 556-6417

32