Hot Tub Man
Several people in Hot Springs, MT, have small businesses selling access to their outdoor mineral pools, which tend to run pretty dang warm. Anyone can go lounge around in them, provided they have about five bucks. Two days ago, my mom and I drove about an hour from Arlee to give our five bucks to Leroy, who sits by his pool and chills most of the day, every day.
Out front is a large sculpture made of giant bare barkless branches sticking straight up out of a deep pile of river rocks. The snow lining the clearings on the mountains shines in the sun to the northeast. Cold air coming down from the slopes rattles the chain link fence.
Leroy's house is all the way back in town, about four blocks away. He drives back home for lunch or to get more cigarettes, but his truck climbs up the hill to the pool again soon enough, because he has to make sure he's collecting all his rightful dollars. "These folks are gonna flee," Leroy says, leaning back in his chair again. "They're fleein, they're fleein." He's watching a truck that's turning around in his driveway. "Took one look and said That big Indian's gonna kill us. He's gonna shoot us dead with his deer rifle."
Leroy's pool is four feet deep, made of unfinished concrete and just big enough for me, Mom, a man in aviators with a big white mustache, and a thin angry woman with a big green towel-turban on. She's angry that Barack Obama spends so much money, and wishes he would get out there and shovel some snow in Washington. "Abraham Lincoln and George Washington shoveled snow, so why can't Barack Obama shovel snow? The other presidents shoveled snow, so why can't this one shovel snow? Did you know he's spent more money since he's been president than every other president put together?"
Aviator man is sitting against the side, with his arms spread wide and resting along the edge of the pool. "Well, they say more wolves are comin' down and eating folks' livestock... pe'ple who used to be in the ranchin' business ain't in the ranchin' business anymore." He seems to be continuing a conversation that has been taking a long rest. I'd say this conversation's probably been resting for about 45 minutes. "And this time they're carryin' tapeworms, and the tapeworms've killed a couple pe'ple." Leroy laughs almost imperceptibly. "I wouldn't eat wolf. I wouldn't eat boiled wolf, I wouldn't even eat fried wolf."
Leroy is pretty famous. "All kinds of people come in here and say Hey Leroy. I think I must know 'em, cause they come in and say Hey Leroy, but I never seen 'em. But they must know me." Maybe I'll say Hey Leroy next time. Maybe someday you'll even get to say it.
Out front is a large sculpture made of giant bare barkless branches sticking straight up out of a deep pile of river rocks. The snow lining the clearings on the mountains shines in the sun to the northeast. Cold air coming down from the slopes rattles the chain link fence.
Leroy's house is all the way back in town, about four blocks away. He drives back home for lunch or to get more cigarettes, but his truck climbs up the hill to the pool again soon enough, because he has to make sure he's collecting all his rightful dollars. "These folks are gonna flee," Leroy says, leaning back in his chair again. "They're fleein, they're fleein." He's watching a truck that's turning around in his driveway. "Took one look and said That big Indian's gonna kill us. He's gonna shoot us dead with his deer rifle."
Leroy's pool is four feet deep, made of unfinished concrete and just big enough for me, Mom, a man in aviators with a big white mustache, and a thin angry woman with a big green towel-turban on. She's angry that Barack Obama spends so much money, and wishes he would get out there and shovel some snow in Washington. "Abraham Lincoln and George Washington shoveled snow, so why can't Barack Obama shovel snow? The other presidents shoveled snow, so why can't this one shovel snow? Did you know he's spent more money since he's been president than every other president put together?"
Aviator man is sitting against the side, with his arms spread wide and resting along the edge of the pool. "Well, they say more wolves are comin' down and eating folks' livestock... pe'ple who used to be in the ranchin' business ain't in the ranchin' business anymore." He seems to be continuing a conversation that has been taking a long rest. I'd say this conversation's probably been resting for about 45 minutes. "And this time they're carryin' tapeworms, and the tapeworms've killed a couple pe'ple." Leroy laughs almost imperceptibly. "I wouldn't eat wolf. I wouldn't eat boiled wolf, I wouldn't even eat fried wolf."
Leroy is pretty famous. "All kinds of people come in here and say Hey Leroy. I think I must know 'em, cause they come in and say Hey Leroy, but I never seen 'em. But they must know me." Maybe I'll say Hey Leroy next time. Maybe someday you'll even get to say it.
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