August 3, 2005
Week 14 - Impossible Dreams 2
Episode 3
Powell and Mr. Pasternak step outside.
Mr. Pasternak points to the top of a telephone pole at the foot of the driveway. "The power company boys were working up there," he says. "They had their truck with that ladder thing and it was raised all the way up. One of 'em was in the basket at the top, fiddling around with one of the wires. Another was working some sort of control from the ground."
"All right..." Powell says.
"All of a sudden that 'Coyote Man' fellow runs into the street from behind my neighbor's house, over there." He points. "Guy had this crazy mask on and some sort of towel pinned around his neck. Supposed to be his cape, I'd guess, like Superman."
"Um... What did he do?"
"Well... He runs up to the truck and he yells out, I remember it exactly, he yells 'Stop your evil sabotage, villains!' Then he pulls out a wrench or something and starts hammering it at the side of the truck."
"He thought the power company men were sabotaging the lines?"
"That's what he said... Craziest thing I've seen in fifty four years on this property, I'll tell you that... So the power company boy, by the truck, he isn't too happy about this at all. He starts screaming at him and then they start a little wrestling."
"Uh... did anyone get hurt?"
"Well, not to speak of, I don't think. This Coyote Man fellow, in the middle of the tussle, he notices me... So he starts calling out 'Captain Hurricane! Help me, Captain Hurricane!'"
"Why would he call you 'Captain Hurricane'?"
"I think it must've been on account of the leaf blower I was using, at the time. Thing is pretty loud and it packs quite a wind... Not quite a hurricane though..." He looks at Powell. "I'm seventy three years old, and I take care of my own property, thank you... Lots of young folks move in here... Kids, your age... First thing they do, they hire lawn services, never leave their living rooms." He pats his stomach. "I haven't gone up a pants size since I left school. Those fellows and their lawn services... They put on ten pounds a year, and that's no exaggeration."
"Uh... I believe you..."
"Country's going soft, that's the truth... Come to a fist fight, I could probably flatten any one of these young fellows with their lawn services. Seventy three years old or not, I'd flatten them and their remote controls...."