to be precise.
A dozen or so young girls were washing cars at the only full-service gas station on the island.
Brownie Girl Scouts ... raising money ... for a camping trip when school was out.
Some girls were standing on the corner ... with signs ... waving to the local traffic ... inviting them in ... for a lather & a rinse ... followed by assorted once-overs with some towels.
Encouragement wasn't really necessary. Manteo is a small town ... a close-knit community ... much like Mayberry.
An antique truck rolled up to the pumps ... for a fill-up. The driver stepped out to chat with the attendant as he washed the windshield, checked the tires & pumped the gas. It was a lively conversation and the laughter rang out through the parking lot.
"Wow! That looks like Matlock!" said this Brownie leader's daughter.
"That's because it is Matlock," I replied. "Andy Griffith is our neighbor."
Boldly she strode across the parking lot ... with her great big Brownie smile ... her money bag ... and a Girl Scout cookie order form in her hand. Politely, she introduced herself to Andy ... and asked if he would like to have his truck washed ... by the troop of girls.
And just as politely, he declined. He said he was "mighty particular" about who washed his vintage truck.
Not one to take "No" lightly, she smoothly moved into the second ask ... like a seasoned pro ... "Well, then, would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies? They're just $2.50 a box ... and I will be happy to deliver them to you when they come in."
With a big smile, ole Andy signed up for a box or two.
Sadly, neither of us remembers which ones he ordered that day.
Elated by her success, she returned to the car wash area grinning from ear-to-ear. Andy Griffith had bought some cookies ... from her!
As he was leaving, Andy toodled over to ask a few questions about the girls ... and their endeavor. He was like that. Curious ... always wanting to be in the know about community goings-on ... and being supportive whenever possible.
He chatted for a few minutes with myself and the other moms present. With a wave, he wished the girls good luck with their carwash. And as he turned to leave, he took my hand and urgently pressed it.
He thanked me for giving my time to the girls ... saying that he sure hoped there would be enough money raised so that ALL of the girls could go on the camping trip ... and he folded my fingers before letting go of my hand.
Andy hopped into his truck ... ahh-ooo-gah-ed ... and went on his way.
There in the palm of my hand, rested a $100 bill. It was his way of making sure ... that none of the young ladies ... got left out ... or left behind.
Weeks later, when the cookies arrived ... we drove out to deliver them. Andy lived on an estate with a fence and a gate. I guess it was necessary ... in order to maintain some privacy. It's not easy being a celebrity ... and all.
Sadly, those who were employed by him ... to be sure that any curious fans who wandered up ... respected his privacy ... didn't have the same Southern manners ... as the man himself. Rudely, the man at the gate rebuffed the young Brownie ... as she attempted to deliver the cookies.
I didn't really remember that part of the story ... until she reminded me of it this week.
It's funny the things we remember. She said she never knew about the $100 gift. I find it hard to believe that I didn't share that with her at the time ... or in the re-telling over the years.Maybe she'd heard it ... maybe she hadn't. Doesn't really matter in the long run.
At the time ... selling Andy the cookies ... was far more important ... to her! I reminded her of that.
Legendary, she was ... on Roanoke Island ... for her charm ... her charisma ... she was a cookie-selling celebrity ... in her own right ... after all. Another of our neighbors, Virginian-Pilot editor Ron Speer, had already shared her story with the world.
It was the morning of my birthday that the text came ... from that little Brownie ... now an accomplished woman ... telling me that our old neighbor, Andy Griffith, had died.
She shared her version of this story ... and I shared mine.
It's like the end of an era ... And it makes one pause ... wasn't life always simpler ... in Mayberry?
I had to smile ... thinking about ole Andy ... sharing a song or two ... and some cake ... celebrating my birthday with my best friend, God, Creator of the Universe.
Yes, indeed. He is Andy's best friend, too.
www.lifelessons-mj.blogspot.com
(c) July 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment