This, That, and the Other

“Autumn is here and we still don’t have a solution,” Henry, one of the town’s elders said. “Unless we come up with a workable plan, our backs will be up against the wall. Soon winter will be upon us and by then it will be too late.

“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul, I am afraid,” Herman said.

“People, please!” William shouted. “Let’s stop talking about damp and drizzly and let’s discuss real options. We have a serious problem and we can’t just mop them under the rug.”

“You mean sweep then under the rug,” Herman said.

“Bite me, Herman, you myopic old fool,” William said. “You know damn well what I meant.”

“Just placate him, William,” Henry said. “You know he’s senile. I have a qualm or two about his even being here at this meeting of the council.”

“Fuck you, Henry,” Herman said. “My mind is as sharp as it ever was and if we can’t figure out how to bring those tourists back to our seaside town, we’re all screwed.”

“I have an idea,” William said. “We’ll offer a cash bonus to each travel agent who books passengers on the cruise ships that come to our town.”

All in favor say ‘aye,’” Henry said. “Opposed say ‘nay.’”

“The ayes have it,” William announced. “I will immediately send text messages to all the cruise ship companies and travel agents telling them about the bonuses.”

(250 words)

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Written for this week’s 50 Word Thursday prompt from Kristian at Tales From the Mind of Kristian. The idea is to use the image above (unattributed), along with the line, “Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul” from Moby Dick by Herman, and to write a post that must be between 50 and 250 words, in 50 word increments.

Also written for Di’s Three Things Challenge for today, where the three things are “back,” “people,” and “wall.”

Also written for these daily prompts: Ragtag Daily Prompt (autumn), Daily Addictions (mop), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (myopic), Word of the Day Challenge (placate), Your Daily Word Prompt (qualm), and The Daily Spur (bonus).