The George is a family run hardware store that serves many purposes in its small town. The store is run by Gus and Jane, and their story is told by their son, Gordie. We meet all the players, like Alex who runs the newspaper and Ralph, who drives his car into the bar because his dog told him to. Everyone meets and greets in this wonderful place, and Gus is always there to lend a hand. When poor Marge, an elderly member of town, calls Gus in tears because her dog died, he agrees to build the pet a coffin that very day. The dog's name was Baby, and much like the old game, Whispering Down The Lane, AKA Telephone, the story immediately gets out...and muddled. Soon a customer comes in to share the news that someone is burying a baby in her back yard. "Isn't that illegal?" the customer asks.
This is a humorous story about wonderfully eccentric people in a warm southern town. It is a fictional account that reads more like a memoir and brings the reader right into the lives of these entertaining people. It read a little bit like Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon Days, and it is bound to make you smile. I realize that small town life is not for me, but I would love to spend an afternoon sitting on the bench at The George and discussing life with Gus and the gang.
- Beverly
Publisher - Beth Tyner
Date of Publication - June 19, 2012