The Chronicle Of The 'Glad Stone'

The Prologue

It had been nearly 202 or 206 days (about 7 months) that Lefty Liv, stock executive kicked up his heels creating a desert dust storm scene creating a visibility nightmare blurring a ‘professional gaming recreational weekly monopoly fantasy’.

“So, Lefty,” a challenging voice came from a ghostly political individual hanging around the gallery hall, “how long do you think it is going to take you to leave the sand trap and make some green in this beneficial investment plan?”

“Oh, I do not know, suppose 287 twenty-four-hour business periods and my roads will be paved with gold,” the curious entrepreneur screamed back sweating things out, “who needs to know?”

“Chester,” the answer responded.

“Chester?”

“Yeah, Chester Whitman, he has this stone that makes him glad,”

Stopping what he was doing Lefty Liv looked up, “you mean Chester Whitman has a ‘glad stone’?

Affirmatively the haunting image shook his head while watching Lefty emerge from the protective competitive financial bunker which for decades acted like a security blanket.

“And how did Chester Whitman find a ‘glad stone? May I inquire?”

“Apparently, packing peas at the plant where he worked a mythical character appeared,”

“The Bed Minister?” Lefty interrupted the story.

“Yeah, as I said he visited Chester while he was packing peas,” the nostalgic bachelor repeated, “seems pretty shifty to me, a little too much royal pain in the back.”

In deep thought Lefty rubbed his chin before outstretching his hands, “now who are you?”

“Sorry, I am two term President Grover Cleveland, I once ran this country for four years and took a break,”

“Like Ross and Rachel?”

“Who?”

“Never mind,” Lefty Liv retreated his comment.

“Then they asked me to come back,” the former Commander and Chief stated, “I stood for something I do not remember what but seemed important to take a stand.”

“Did it have to do with road maintenance?”

In true rhetoric know it all fashion the strategy maker shrugged his shoulders and replied, “what about the rock that makes people relaxed? That is what we need to address?”

“The ‘glad stone’,” Lefty Liv confirmed, “we are going to have to meet with the Bed Minister and see if he can get us one,”

“And how are you going to do that?” Asked the gothic President likeness.

“I am going to have to sleep on that decision,” Lefty stated quietly.

Trying to say something respectfully intelligent President Cleveland mentioned, “I have a rest stop south of here,”

Lefty happily took the offer, “are you all, right?” Quizzed the heavenly advisor,

“No, actually, I am not all right,” a pause silenced the conversation, “I am Lefty Liv full of life.”

Meeting The Bed Minister

After a long rest stop the natural heavenly blue sky yellow fire ball set off an alarm signaling Lefty Liv ‘the hour has come’ to head out to search for the ‘Glad Stone.’ Presenting a nice gesture and knowing Lefty Liv needed a little warming from peaceful global ideas former President Grover Cleveland left a magical tandem wheel transportation device next to the now departed cowboy fast food chicken stand.

Headed out through exit stage North, Lefty Liv peddled his way on a nicely paved interstate road admiring toxic corporate waste and smokestack trucking sounds. Few seconds elapsed until he left the safe roadway confines only to endure hazardous terrain featuring cobblestones creating desert style dust storms, forcing the once young rider champion to take the challenge in stride until confronting the small mountain test. Up the hill he went and when the summit arrived Lefty Liv was rewarded with a picturesque Abby as a scenic present.

“This must be where the Minister of Beds resides,” the puttering profiteer concluded locking the bicycle on the rack. Opening the castle sanctuary door, Lefty Liv entered the waiting room quietly and sat down. Suddenly, there was a disturbance inside the tranquil setting revealing two gentlemen,

“Well, Bed Minister, how can I ever thank you,”

“No problem, Mr. Ess and I am sorry to hear you have an ex now,”

“That is okay, the three-day trial with the mattress did the trick,” and after the handshake concluded the pair separated, “May I help you?” Bed Minister directed the inquiry towards Lefty Liv.

“Why, yes, are you the minister of beds?”

“Yes, I am and right now we have a three-day trial on mattresses.”

“I am not interested in any mattress,” Lefty Liv retorted, “actually, I am looking for the ‘Glad Stone’ apparently Chester Whitman was granted one,”

“Oh, yes,” Bed Minister remembered, “he got it from Mr. Suss’s Ex,”

“When did Mr. Suss get an ex?”

“When he found his wife engaging in an affair showing her full deck to another card player coming up the ranks,”

“I am sure that minor player became a major really soon,”

“To be honest it generally doesn’t happen that way,” Bed Minister explained, “usually things are kept subtle and private on these issues.”

“Now about the ‘Glad Stone’,” Lefty Liv returned to the subject.

“Oh yes, to get to Mr. Suss’ Ex continue north and soon you will come to the crossroads square and if she has the time then you will be closer to finding the ‘Glad Stone’,”

Despite the sun cancer and soar saddle threats Lucky Liv resumed his epic journey finding the next checkpoint.

“Your making suitable time,” former President Grover Cleveland ghostly image appeared, “now let us rest and have a rip sing cowboy chicken dinner.”

Smiling Lefty Liv peered up, “tomorrow attack the miniature valley bump and Mr. Suss’ Ex mansion that she won in the divorce will be there.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

Pocketing The 'Glad Stone'

Darkness started to approach, and Lefty Liv watched his deadline close in on the day’s final stage, needing to find Mr. Suss’ Ex and obtain the ‘Glad Stone’ was such the feat especially when dealing with the treacherous terrain challenge hurdle hampering the ascension to the miniature bump summit.

Inside the cottage mansion there were two ladies playing cards, “Mr. Middles’ Ex are you going to discard royal pictures?” Mr. Suss’ Ex inquired.

“Why, yes, I will let you have this one and that one,”

“But that one was a wonderful first baseman,” Mr. Suss’ Ex took a sip of her chocolate drink and a bite to the artistically designed marshmallow sandwich.

“He liked the blue color and always seemed to be dodging me,”

“Oh, that would be a problem, I suppose,” Mr. Suss’ Ex agreed when there was a knock on the door, “I will get it.”

Leaving the table, the divorced single Mother to nine infielders and two catchers answered the call, “May I help you?” She inquired.

“Are you Mr. Suss’ Ex?”

“Why, yes, I am, who are you?” She replied,

“I am Lefty Liv and I need to get my hands on a ‘Glad Stone,’ and I was told you gave one to Chester Whitman last week,” Lefty Liv explained.

“Well, hold on a second, let me check my daily record, come in out of the cold,”

“It is nearly a hundred degrees,”

“Is that right?” Mrs. Suss Ex questioned, “I knew I kept the air conditioning on too low.”

As Lefty Liv entered Mrs. Suss Ex flipped the pages to the daily record and did not see any transaction, “There is nothing here, let me review my ‘star ledgers’ copy.”

And right there in glaring headlines was the fact Chester Whitman recently obtained a ‘Glad stone,’ “Mr. Liv, it says here Mr. Whitman was a star. Are you a star?”

“I was once a young rider champion, it was in all the papers,”

“Oh, yes the young rider champion in the derby talent search, I remember you Mr. Liv,” Mr. Suss’ Ex memory sparked.

“You were such a beautiful rider, Mr. Liv” Mrs. Middles’ ex interrupted.

Upon confirming the requirements to receive a ‘Glad Stone’ Mr. Suss’ Ex disappeared only to emerge with the product, “here you go, now scat, we have cards to throw around.”

“Yes, a nice game of 52 Card pick up,” Mr. Middles’ Ex chirped in from the table.

“I must be going,” Lefty Liv put the ‘Glad Stone’ in his pocket and exited.

“Mr. Liv, I am really glad, you stop by,” Mr. Suss’ Ex paused.

“Well thank you,”

“You see the nice rock is starting to work.”

Confronting The ‘Glad Stone’ Issue

Outside the morning sun started to grow up realizing afternoon would be here soon and Chester Whitman experiencing diner counter sitting pondered the restaurant’s moniker. “Can I get some service over here?” He bellowed looking down to the ‘Glad Stone’ that he wore around his neck.

“One minute I am with another customer,” an answer cried out as a bell rang.

“Welcome to Chesters Diner,” the cashier distracted from the Sunday news smiled, “oh it’s you Mr. Liv, glad to see you.” Hearing the short conversation, the lone patron stood up and saw Lefty Liv proudly displaying a ‘Glad Stone.’

“Who are you?” Chester’s disruption made everyone stop what they were doing, “and where did you get that ‘Glad Stone’?”

“The Queen of Miniature Bumps awarded me this last night?”

“You must mean Mr. Suss’ Ex.”

“Yes, I was once the leading young rider in the Derby Talent Search competition,” Lefty Liv announced.

“And how many chapeaus were in this Derby Talent Search? May I ask?” Chester grew tenser.

“A few had their automobile titles in the hat,”

“Was there something scribed in the daily record about this feat?”

“Uh, no,”

“What about the star’s ledger?”

“You see there’s the problem.”

“Oh, by the way Mr. Whitman,” Lefty Liv stood his ground, “what did you do to get written up in the star’s ledger?”

Caught off guard Chester Whitman went silent, “my name is on the sign out there,” a quick statement was produced,

“You do not own this establishment,” Lefty Liv responded, “Chester Suss owns it with Chester Ess, that is why it’s plural Chesters Diner.” Taking the ‘Glad Stone’ off and throwing it to the ground the fraud foe knew he was beat, “have a nice day.”

Taking a seat, a menu was promptly delivered to Lefty Liv, “honesty is synonymous with winning,”

“Yeah,” the staffer agreed, “we do not even know if Chester Whitman was born in the USA, maybe that is why he is always on the run.”

“Can I have ice cream?” Lefty Liv inquired celebrating another victory.

“Sure, Lefty Liv, we are always glad to see you here.”

Later that day while peddling home a patriotic costumed dare devil loitering on the roadside zipping up from a nature issue caught his attention.

“Mr. Hamilton, is that you?”

“Yes, and it’s George,”

“Were you ever in the star’s ledger?”

“The what?”

“Did they ever make a daily record of what you accomplished?”

Shrugging his shoulders Lefty Liv interpreted the gesture as ‘no’ disembarking his two-wheeler then presented the Evil Knievel inspired character a ‘Glad Stone.’ “I really loved the stunt guy movie,”

“Thank you,” George pleasantly replied adding the trinket to his hardware collection, “I am glad you enjoyed the film, look kid I must make a jump at ‘Snake Canyon,’ do you know where it is?”

“Take the Interstate paved road and go west,” Lefty replied.

“Thanks again, glad to know there are nice people like you.”