Merriton

“We’re not supposed to talk about our projects.” Roscoe was at the ranger station. He was trying to get some work done. The ski jackets were lined up to buy park permits and A.S. just wouldn’t leave him alone. She just wouldn’t stop talking. “I know we’re not supposed to talk about our projects for the Cowboy Think Tank, but I am going to go ahead with mine whether I get funding or not and your project kind of ties into mine,”

Roscoe handed the park permit to the snow bum and wished for an avalanche or some other winter catastrophe to hit so he could escape. “My project already has funding, so I don’t need your help. I’m just presenting so everyone in Merriton will hear about it first. You can wait until then. Don’t even know how you know that my project might be something you’re interested in.” A.S. shook her head. No excuse was going to fly with her.

“Listen to me, Roscoe. My project is called the Merriton Festival Circuit. We are going to host an event every month. I just want to include your safari thing. Which month are you planning on having it?” The tall and thin man bristled. There were so many things wrong with what she just said he hardly knew where to start and he certainly didn’t want to say exactly how he felt with so many park visitors in the ranger station.

He took the money from a snow bunny in a ski suit so tight that he could see the woman’s nipples bulging. He tried not to stare, but there they were, looking at him like two raisins smashed into GORE-TEX. “A.S., I’m a little busy.” He motioned at the crowd and then the most surprising thing happened. A.S. jumped behind the counter and offered to help the next ski jacket in line.

For fifteen quiet minutes, the two of them took money and handed out park permits. Roscoe was shocked that A.S. would even know the cost and difference between the various permits, but she explained them and the rules to the ski jackets as well as any of his rangers could have. A.S. always acted like she was so much better than everyone else, that Roscoe had forgotten that she was a local. Born on the mountain, just like him. By the time the two of them cleared the crowd, he was in a much better mood to talk.

“Thanks for helpin’.” A.S. walked around to the other side of the counter and shrugged. Roscoe took off his ranger hat and ran his hand over his head. “First off, it’s not a safari thing. Don’t ever call it safari nothin’. I don’t want no trouble from the Jeep people, ‘kay?” Roscoe waited for her answer. A.S. crinkled her brow, but she agreed. “Okay? What is it then?”

Roscoe felt like he was breaking a rule to confide in A.S., but he was bursting to the seams with pride. “It’s called the Land Cruiser Cruise.” He smiled and nodded. A.S.’s face was blank, so he continued, “I’ve got a sponsorship with Toyota to host an off-roading weekend on the mountain this June. Only people who own Toyota vehicles can participate.” He started listing the models, “Land Cruisers, FJs, Tundras, 4Runners, Siennas, even Tacomas if they’re lifted right. Heck, if they can get a Prius up the mountain, it’s welcome just as much.”

A.S. nodded, “So you’re having your event in June. Is it alright if I include it on the Merriton Festival Circuit? I just don’t want to create my own event that month if you’ve already have something planned.” Roscoe agreed, “Sure, you can include it.” He wanted to talk some more. He had broken the rule to share this much, he wanted to finish. “There will be a big tent for all the vendor who sell add-ons and accessories for Toyotas. It will be bigger than the Onion Festival!”

Roscoe noticed A.S. cringe, so he changed the subject a bit. “It’s just that the Jeep Safari doesn’t let anybody except Jeeps go on their safari, so we wanted to have an event of our own. People have been takin’ Toyota pickups up Moose Hill ever since they first came to the states. They might be little, but they’re just as good goin’ up the hill as any Jeep. We just wanted to show everybody that.”

A.S. smiled. “Have you created your Power Point for the presentation yet?” Roscoe shook his head. “Dora said she’d help me with it.” A.S. answered, “When you introduce this, lead with that story. It’s a good one.” Then another thought hit her. “Oh, and show lots of pictures of your pickup with you and Dora. It will seem like you’ve already done it if you can show them what it will look like.”

Roscoe was surprised and grateful for her advice. A.S. asked, “Is it asking too much to have you say that you are the June event for the Merriton Festival Circuit?” Roscoe smiled, of course, she would want something in return. A.S. never did nothin’ for free. She might be more polite about it, but sh still wanted somethin’. “Sure, A.S., I’ll say that for ya, but you gotta do somethin’ for me.”

The surprise on her face was palpable. Roscoe realized that she never once considered that he might want something in return. His Land Cruiser Cruise was a funded event that she thought she could just appropriate for her festival thing. Well, if she was going to get some of the credit, he was going to get something out of it. “I want you to do an event where all the people bring their old computers to donate them to Dora’s project.”

Roscoe didn’t expect the joy to fill A.S.’s face. She pulled out her list again and pointed at it, “I have April and August free. Which do you think will work for her?” Roscoe struggled with the idea. “Well, August people could do it for school startin’, but then she wouldn’t have enough time to get all the computers fixed up. How about April?” A.S. smiled and pulled her pen back out of her purse. “Okay, and what should we call it? What is Dora calling her project?”

Roscoe put his ranger hat back on. “I think she’s callin’ it the ElectroRegeneration Society, ERGS for short.” He watched A.S. write the words on her monthly festival calendar. “That’s a horrible name, but it doesn’t really matter what you call something as long as it gets into people’s minds.” Her hand hovered over the calendar and she continued, “Firstly, I can’t do THIS April. We’ll have to plan for NEXT April. There’s just not enough time to generate a buzz for something like this. Secondly, you better talk to Dora about this before I commit to giving her April. She might not want to deal with me…”

The ranger smiled in surprise for the second time that day. Maybe there was hope for A.S. yet.