PAUL'S CAR

by
John Burchill
In Great Grandfather's time Paul Kingston Sr. was the main logging contractor for Burchills. Every spring after the logs had been delivered to the mill Paul would get together with the Old Man to "settle up". They religiously agreed on a price in the fall but they always needed to "dicker" at settling up time. Paul seemed to always have a hard luck story to tell to try to get a little more money than what the original deal offered. The Old Man's job was to hold Paul to the agreed upon price or as close to it as he could. It was a sort of tradition between the two of them and one that, I believe, they both enjoyed. In some instances, like everyone else, Great Grandfather was resistant to change. One of the things he had no use for at all was a car. He was death against them! They could only be driven a few months of the year and were a terrible waste of money. So anyway, this particular year Paul came down to settle up in a brand new car. He drove up to the office and went in to settle up. Finally they agreed upon a price and a cheque was made out for the year's work. When Paul started to leave the two of them shook hands. As he headed out of the office the Old Man started to follow him. Paul didn't want him to see the car parked outside so he turned and shook hands again. After a few words he tried for the door once more but again he was followed. For the third time Paul turned around to shake hands and say something complimentary about their deal. Finally, Paul had to open the door and when the Old Man followed him outside he spied the new car. With a bit of a snort he said, "What's
this ,Paul?" Quick as a wink Paul replied, "Well now, Mr. Burchill, it's just like this. I bought this car to show some of those sons of !!!!!!!! up the Nor West what kind of a man I work for!"