University of South Carolina Libraries
SEC. B — PAGE 4—The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, December 20, 1967 Biff Coleman eased the pres sure of his foot and watched the speedometer needle drop down to 35 miles-per-hour. Central City was probably a speed trap and he didn’t want to get started off on the wrong foot. Anyway, he mused, if I go too fast I might pass right on through before I realize it. Top-drawer inefficiency, Biff thought, to start a branch of fice in such a small town. And just his luck to draw the as signment. Exiled, and at Christ mas, too. He saw the faint flow of red in his mirror. Yep, he had guessed right. Cops. Good thing he wasn’t speeding. Or was he? That guy had his siren on. He’s tailgaiting me, signal ing me to move over, Biff thought. "What the . . . broth er, I couldn’t have been doing over thirty. What’s the limit in this burg, anyhow? I’ll fight through every court in this state before I pay a cent.” Meeting He pulled over, the squad car edging up behind him. A young, smiling officer emerged from the car. The type that likes his work, Biff guessed. A young, smiling officer emerged from the car. "Now, listen officer, I want you to know ...” "Never mind, sir. Please step out of the car. I am Officer Paul McGrath, Central City police force. May I see your driver’s license?” Biff had it in his hand, all ready. "Here you are, but I would like to say ...” "Mr. Coleman, from River City. Mr. Coleman, welcome to Central City. Are you just passing through?” "I had planned to stay. I..” "It doesn’t blatter, sir. May I ask that you come with me? We won’t be gone long. You can lock your car and leave it where it if. It will be all right. ” "Come where with you? What am I supposed to have done? Can’t I just go on my way?” "You can refuse to go. You have the right. Have you some urgent appointment?” "I just want to check into the hotel and ...” "You can do that later. If you have nothing urgent, will you come with me?” "O.K.”, Biff gave in. "O.K., I’ll come with you. Let’s go and get it over with.” Noisy Biff stepped into the car. The officer started the motor and headed up the street, red dome light flashing, siren going full blast. The squad car came to an almost screeching stop in front of a building which appeared more like a church than a police station. "This is our community center,” the officer said. "We use it for just about every meet ing we have in this town.” Biff allowed himself to be pushed through the door. "Meeting?” "Sure, meeting. Look.” Crowd Biff looked. The place was alive with people. Little groups standing around, talking, eat ing cake and sipping punch. "Meeting,” Officer McGrath said. "We do this every Christ mas. We choose someone ap parently passing through and bring them here to meet the friendly folks of Calvert City.” He gave Biff another friendly shove. "Here he is, Mayor.” The big man grasped Biff’s hand. "Your name, sir?” Biff stammered, "Uh, Uh, Biff. Biff Coleman.” The mayor raised his hands. "Ladies and gentlemen. Step up, if you will and meet Mr. Biff Coleman. Mr. Coleman is passing through and just stopped to let us wish him a May all the joys of Yuletide ring out for you. Newberry Dry Goods Company C. J. McWhirter & Son. 1004 Main Street A wreath of good wishes for health, wealth and happiness from all your friends at... GARDNER AGENCY Merry Christmas.” Biff found his voice. "Thank you, Mr. Mayor. But, I’m not passing through. I have come to stay. You know that building on the corner of First and Main just remodeled? Now, my company is opening a branch office there and I want to in vite. . .” He was drowned by a chorus of voices, "Merry Christ mas, Biff.” * First Footer * May Bring Luck Perhaps one of the most widespread of the early New Year’s superstitions concerned the "first-footer”, the first per son to cross the threshold on New Year morning. Women and light-haired men were con sidered unlucky "first-footers”, as were people who walked pigeon-toed. The superstition in some vil lages was taken so seriously that a dark haired man was given the job of acting as first- footer. Going from house to house, he would be the first to cross over the threshold, thus preserving the good fortune of the community. The Anglo-Saxons, believe- ing that something might hap pen when the New Year burst in, often climbed upon the roof on New Year’s Eve so as to have a good view of such event. We moderns make plenty of noise, presumably because our primitive ancestors believed that noise would keep evil in fluences away. « After the rush of Christmas, may we extend a wish for a Happy Christmas to you with our warmest thanks for your friendship this past year?