AUGUST 10
Stanley Harris dragged his trash can to the curb as his neighbor did the same.
“Good evening!” said Mr. Wills, who like his wife seemed perpetually happy.
Stanley grumbled a faint, “Good evening,” and returned to his house.
Slumped on his recliner, he fiddled with the remote. On came his favorite show, Winslow Pete, Marshall.
The episode began with Winslow Pete kissing his wife, Stacy Ann, farewell before leaving for the Marshall’s office.
The show was like any other TV Western—yet Stanley liked it better than the rest. Fact was, he liked it better than anything, including the wife he neglected and family he despised.
AUGUST 17
Stanley Harris dragged his trash can to the curb as his neighbor did the same.
“Good evening!” said Mr. Wills, who compared to Stanley had a well-kept lawn, handsome home and new car.
Stanley grumbled a faint, “Good evening,” and returned to his house.
Slumped on his recliner, he fiddled with the remote. On came his favorite show, Winslow Pete, Marshall.
The Pete’s rustic cabin was not far from the silver mine owned by Winslow’s kinfolk, but he had no interest in the family business. The only piece of silver he wanted was the badge over his heart.
As for Stanley, this was year eighteen toiling as Service Manager at his brother-in-law’s car dealership. The money was good, but he hated the paperwork, and most of all—the people.
AUGUST 24
Stanley Harris dragged his trash can to the curb as his neighbor did the same.
“Good evening!” said Mr. Wills, whose cheerful son often visited the family.
Stanley grumbled a faint, “Good evening,” and returned to his house.
Slumped on his recliner, he fiddled with the remote. On came his favorite show, Winslow Pete, Marshall.
Last season, a teenage orphan named Billy helped Winslow repair the roof on his cabin. This week, the Marshall and his wife adopted Billy.
Stanley had a huge second mortgage. It was for his son’s college loan. Ned, Stanley’s son, studied the pharmacy trade. Ned is currently serving time in federal prison for drug trafficking.
AUGUST 31
Stanley Harris dragged his trash can to the curb and heard something unusual—silence. Absent was the clamor of trash day echoed in his neighbor’s driveway. He ignored the peculiar stillness, went inside.
Slumped on his recliner, he fiddled with the remote.
On came Edward Booth, the rugged faced young actor who played Winslow Pete, Marshall.
“Good evening,” he said. “Before you watch tonight’s episode, I want to pay tribute to our show’s imaginative creator, writer and producer…”
The face of a man filled the television and Stanley raised himself from the recliner.
“…a kind soul, a wonderful man who passed away earlier this week. The station will now air a moment of silence.”
After a minute, the photo of Mr. Wills dissolved into blackness.
