The Lonesome Buffalo (part 2)

The day had potential from the start. It was unusually warm with a light misting rain. Gerard had taught me the odds, one in six doors you knock on will let you in, especially if it’s raining or real cold. If they will talk to you, chances are they will buy, if they don’t buy maybe they will offer you food or something to drink or maybe even something else. People have a hard time turning someone away standing out in the rain, so all I had to do was visit sixty homes and I could make my pledge.

I was let out in a Texas trickle-down, oil supported, cul-de-sac neighborhood. I had borrowed a business tie from Buster, and a Members Only jacket from Skip. Gerard loaned me a Mississippi State ball cap with instructions that Ole Miss had beaten us at the EGG BOWL, but we’d surely get them back next year.

The first house didn’t let me in. The second house asked who I was and promptly slammed the door in my face. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth houses wouldn’t even open the door. I headed up the other side of the street and was immediately surrounded by two cop cars and four of Longview’s finest police officers. They were dressed in black, packing 9′s, with night sticks drawn. I was not a Member of their elite club. I was asked for identification, my sales permit, and a business license. I had a drivers license, thats all. They read my rights and handcuffed me at the same time.

From the back of the patrol car, hands cuffed behind my back, I explained the benefits of E-Z CLEAN. It will keep finger prints off your windows and clean gum out of your carpet, degrease your engine, and is environmentally friendly. In the Longview City Jail, I was charged with Soliciting Without a Permit. They took my jacket, cap, tie, belt, boots, and personal bottle of E-Z CLEAN. They gave me a pair of cloth flip-flops, and one phone call.

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