Page 16

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The Strike!

It was only a matter of time before something came of Al being cold. I didn't see how he could be cold, with his hair. He must have read my mind when I mentioned "Strike" a page or two back. I knew something was up when several of his buddies started acting peculiar.

When I came back from morning coffee at the Hardee's Liars Club I found Alphonse in his chair all covered up with Betty's Washington Redskin Blanket. I asked him if he was sick, and he said no - just cold. I haven't changed the temperature in the house, so why do you think it suddenly became too cold? "I don't know, it is just too cold in the house".

Hey Barely, said Mac, how are you and what is that you have on? It's a small blanket, commonly known as a wash cloth, said Barely. Why are you wearing a blanket, asked Mac? Because it is just too cold in the house, said Barely. I don't understand, said Mac, how the temperature was fine before today, and now it's too cold. Me either, said Barely.

Oh no, not another one, said Mac. Vinny you look like an alligator burrito. I can't help what I look like, said Vinny, I'm freezing to death. Vinny, I have not changed the temperature setting, said Mac. Well, somethings wrong, said Vinny, because it is just too cold in the house.

And now there is Benny, said Mac. I'm not too surprised at you, Benny, because you're always cold. Not this cold, said Benny. What happened, said Mac, to make you so cold? I don't know, said Benny, it is just too cold in the house. (That sounds exactly like what I heard from Alphonse, Barely and Vinny, whispered Mac to himself. I think there is something going on I don't know about yet!)

Ok Hicky, said Mac, what's your excuse? My excuse for what, asked Hicky? For running around wearing a blanket, said Mac. I am cold, said Hicky. But I haven't changed the temperature, said Mac. That may be, said Hicky, but it is just too cold in the house.( Ah ha, whispered Mac, the same exact quote as I heard from the others. I know there is something up now. Also, I am willing to bet that Al is the ring leader of what ever it is.)

What in the world is this, asked Mac? This is a mass demonstration of our displeasure associated with the living conditions in this house, said Al. Wow, said Mac, have you been reading the dictionary? I have been making an effort to improve my vocabulary so I will sound more educated during the debates, said Al. Well, you have done a good job so far, said Mac. Back to the demonstration, what is this supposed to prove, asked Mac? It shows my ability to organize large numbers of critters to solve difficult problems, said Al. The president has to be able to organize.

Later that day, there was a clandestine meeting of the critters involved in the demonstration. They made signs and got their instructions for the strike!

Alphonse is telling them how to march in a line and how to sound off about the cause! Also, how to explain the information on their signs. Al said, the line is called a picket line. I will lead the picket line, so you don't need to be afraid. Critters have been marching for their rights for a long time. Also, I don't think Mac will do anything too bad, or try to cross the line. Why would he try to cross the line, asked Hicky? I don't know, said Al, but I know some non-strikers try to cross over.

Maybe we can read some of the signs to see if they are appropriate to the occasion. The signs aren't too clear, but I see some are not on the mark. I see Vinny is being his usual self and calling for "eat more beaver". And Benny is calling for "more steak". I guess he is getting real tired of road kill. On a closer look, there are critters in the group that I have never seen before! I will never understand how so many critters find their way to this house.

Wow, said Mac, a "picket line". This is the first time I have ever seen one indoors, but the weather here is rather uninviting. I'll bet if I jumped up and started yelling everyone of those guys would drop his sign and run and hide. If I did, I would never find out what this is all about. The picket line just keeps going around and around. The signs indicate that I am a tightwad and keep the temperature too low for normal comfort. I think I will interview some of the newcomers.

Hi there, welcome to our home. My name is Mac. Thank you sir, My name is Dr. Giles, and I appreciate your hospitality. Where are you from Dr., asked Mac? I was born and raised in Africa, but I received my schooling in England. I received my PhD in 2001 from Oxford in England. That's impressive, said Mac, what brings you to Our world here in Arkansas? I received word about Mr. Alphonse running for president so I thought I would come to visit. I just happened to arrive at the beginning of the strike, so I thought I would join the effort. Also, speaking honestly, I am being considered for Mr. Mobama's running mate in the next election. Have you learned anything of value, asked Mac? I have learned that Mr. Alphonse is a very good organizer, said Dr. Giles, and he commands loyalty from his followers. That information was worth the trip. I'm happy to hear that, said Mac, but please don't mention this to Alphonse or any of his group. Things might get a bit dicey.

Hello, my name is Mac, said Mac. Hi said the turkey, my name is Thomas. Well, Thomas, I am happy to meet you and to welcome you into our home, said Mac. A while back I met a goose named Golly, said Thomas, and he told me about your place and how lots of folks stopped in when they were in the area. When I heard about the political action committee and the strike I thought I better stop by and do my duty as a citizen. Great, said Mac, stop in any time.

Hello, my name is Mac, said Mac. Hi, my name is Billie Butterfly. Well Billie, said Mac, I suppose you are into political stuff. No, said Billie, I was just flying by and smelled Brut after shave. I stopped to see if I could find the butterfly wearing it. And did you, asked Mac? No, said Billie, I have been tracking him for days, and if I catch him we will be married. He must be next door, so, as soon as I can get away I will visit your neighbor! (I didn't know butterflies got married!)

Hi, My name is Mac - welcome to our home, said Mac. Hi, my name is Robby, and I am a Reindeer. Well, Robby, said Mac, I'm glad you could come. Are you into political movements? No, said Robby, I am not into politics. A while back I loaned Golly these mittens, and he left them here by accident. You came all the way down here for a pair of mittens, asked Mac? No, said Robby, we were out scouting new routes for the Christmas delivery group and we were pretty close so I decided to stop in and pick up the mittens. These are my lucky mittens, and I wear them all winter. I have to ask, said Mac, why would a Reindeer need mittens. My feet get cold, said Robby.

Ok guys, asked Mac, what's next? We are the elected representatives of the More Heat Movement, said Alphonse, and we need to know if you will submit to our request, or will we have to continue the strike? And your request is, asked Mac? Raise the temperature in the house, said Alphonse. I suppose I could do that if you promise this is the end of your strike, said Mac. Done, all four shouted, now we can go to our people and celebrate. Wait a minute, said Hicky, Mac, what is a PhD? It means Doctor of Philosophy. Is Philosophy contagious, asked Vinny? Do you have to take shots for it, asked Al? The PhD is not a medical degree, it is a research degree, so you have nothing to worry about.

We Won - We Won - We won, shouted all of the strike participants. This was a great strike, said Vinny, maybe we could do it again. We should probably wait for a while, said Hicky, we don't Mac to get all upset like he did about the truck ride. Ok guys, said Mac, I turned up the temperature and it is getting warmer already. Yes, I can feel it, said Benny. Me too, said Alphonse. I don't know if I can stand it, said Mac, but I will try.

I see that the strike is over, said Mac, and everyone has gone. Did you really think it was too cold in the house? No, said Al, it was about being able to get a large number of people together, get them organized and have them make a stand about something they believed in. So, you didn't need to turn up the heat. Well, said Mac, I didn't turn up the heat. I just pretended to, pretended to be getting hot and convinced you guys you were hot as well! Phooey, said Al. Also, did you know that Dr. Giles was spying on your strike, said Mac? No, said Al, why would he be a spy? He may be Mobama's running mate in the next election, said Mac. It's a shame we didn't know, said Al, Vinny might have had a chance to sample Orangutan!! By the way, where was Terry, asked Mac, I didn't see him in the gang?

Terry is in love, said Al. With who, said Mac? Miss Mollie, said Al. Who is Miss Mollie, asked Mac? The flower pot over by the love seat, said Al. How long has this been going on, asked Mac? For a bout a week, said Al, it should be over in another week or so-

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