Mina, NV — This week we made a big step, a leap really. We finally jumped spurs and all into the twentieth century. I don’t want to say we made it into the current century — that’d be too presumptuous and I’m more matter of fact — but I guarantee you we are a lot closer to catching up than we’ve been since my parent’s started this place in the 1950s.
For months I’d been after Harry to get out from under those old cars he’s always messing with and head down to the community center where they’ve got a computer. Everybody knows the internet is the future; it’s not enough to have a sign up next to the highway anymore. You’ve got to meet people where they’re at and that means getting on those damn computers they’ve always got their noses stuck into these days. It’s just what we entrepreneurs got to do to stay ahead of the competition.
So Harry went down to the center and the old lady down there was really sweet but couldn’t really help much. She’s a retired school teacher but computers is out of her league. Fortunately there was a kid hanging around and Harry promised him he’d sort out whatever problem the kid was having with his car if he’d just help him do this one thing. Probably told the kid that his Old Lady was going to beat him if he came home empty-handed. Maybe the kid took pity on old Harry but Harry told it straight: he’ll get the kid’s car running again. When it comes to cars — real cars not those electric ones — Harry is the best. It’s like cars just tell him what’s ailing them and then he goes in and fixes ‘em. He’s got the gift.
The kid even walked all the way back to the motel with Harry and took a picture with a little computer he had in his pocket. Then they went back to the center again and put everything into the big computer and Harry told me it looked really nice with the picture and my name all big on the screen.
Harry said he was sure we was going to get a lot more business now. He even went and put some words up on the sign that the kid had written down for him on a scrap of paper including a funny “a” with a circle around it that the kid had told him was really important and that everyone would see that we was modern.
Old Harry was so excited that night that he couldn’t stop talking about what he had done. I was proud of him too. I confess I didn’t think he had it in him. I try to keep looking forward but most people around here don’t have much vision. They prefer to just let things slip back into the desert. And that’s exactly what will happen to you if you don’t keep moving around here. The desert has no mercy.
I’m different. The world’s changing around me and I want to be a part of it. I’m not ready to get left behind. Not yet.
With his beard and his yellowing teeth and his paunch always sticking out from under his shirt Harry’s been letting go for a long time but that night I loved him more than ever for going along and trying to make me happy even if we all know it won’t make a bit of difference. Long ago whether we did something or didn’t stopped making any difference. But sometimes I still need to pretend and Harry, God bless him, pretended right along with me.
Harry just kept yapping about the computer thing all through supper until I couldn’t take it anymore and I said, “Harry, you old computer nerd, shut your trap and make love to your old lady like the desert rat you’ll always be.”
That sure snapped him right out of it.
I’m just saying: if you need a nice place to stay when you’re between Las Vegas and Reno, Harry and I have got you covered. And if you’re having car troubles, Harry will get you back on the road in no time. Yeap, sure as the desert is dry, Harry’s got the gift.
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