The townsfolks were generally chary of strangers who suddenly showed up in their tiny hamlet. So when the well-dressed stranger walked down the main street in the center of town, the people were curious.
The mayor ran out into the street. “You appear to be a man of dignity,” the mayor said. “What brings you to our little village?”
The stranger let out a hardy howl. “Ah, Mr. Mayor,” the stranger said, “allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mr. Showman and I understand that your town is about to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding. Well, my specialty is fireworks and what, I ask you, could be a more fitting way to celebrate that special event than an extravagant fireworks display?”
The mayor raised his eyebrows. “You have piqued my interests,” the mayor said. “Please tell me more, Mr. Showman.”
“Well,” the stranger said, “for a mere one-thousand dollars paid in advance, I will come to your delightful town on the day of your centennial celebration and dazzle you and your townfolks with a light show the likes of which you’ve never seen. It’s something you will never forget.”
The mayor beamed and invited the stranger into his office. The mayor opened up the safe, withdrew a thousand dollars and handed it over to Mr. Showman.
“I’m so looking forward to be bringing such joy to your hamlet,” Mr. Showman said. “I’ll see you two weeks from tomorrow.”
The two men shook hands and then the stranger left the mayor’s office, walked down the town’s Main Street, and was never seen or heard from again.
Written for the Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie Tale Weaver prompt, where the topic is “stranger.” Also for these daily prompts: Your Daily Word Prompt (chary), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (dignity), Ragtag Daily Prompt (howl), and Word of the Day Challenge (firework).
The mayor may have a hard time trying to get reelected.
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Deservedly so.
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No wonder the townsfolk were chary of strangers.
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Those danged dapper strangers — was his hair oiled with Dapper Dan?
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Do they still make that stuff?
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It’s still for sale, but I don’t know anyone who buys it.
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Sounds a little like the (second) repair man who came to inspect my dishwasher. (The first one was, at least, more honest; nothing really could be done unless I could get the part, he said. I have no idea how to get such a part… or really if he was correct in which part I should track down and buy. There was no charge, and he left — after having asked to use my bathroom early on in this whole situation where we’re afraid to have someone into the house in the first place.) This (second) guy was more convincing that he would obtain the part. He charged to come to the house and look at the dishwasher, but this did not include a nod to the price of the part. Months went by, after which he called and asked for three hundred dollars before he would order the part. Huh? The part hadn’t even been ordered yet? And somehow I’m supposed to be sure he will actually be back with the part and do the work? He wasn’t dapper enough to even take a chance. (No, that wouldn’t, in fact, be a reason I would try to follow through.) I picked out a new (stainless steal, not flesh and blood) dishwasher, this evening.
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Hmm…. it’s easy to con unsuspecting mayors.
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I will be honest, I didn’t read, I just wanted to touch,lol
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Ooh la la! 😂
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Oh, that mayor is far too trusting.
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Indeed he is…or was.
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