Seven-year-old Amanda Ludlow and ten-year-old Glendella Ludlow were talking about life, reacting to a whole situation about which Ironwood Hamilton, captain of police in Tinyville, VA, was doing the slowest car chase in history through the town because a very rich local couple was driving around corners in a convertible arguing.
“I know them – that's Mr. and Mrs. Greylington,” Glendella said. “They just prove there are things money cannot buy, even though that is a nice car.”
“Yeah,” Amanda said. “Even at that special store where they make the cotton candy, you cannot buy love, although because Papa loves us, we should ask him to take us there soon.”
“I wasn't even talking about love because they definitely didn't marry for that,” Glendella said. “I was at the wedding, and that wasn't what it was about.”
“Wait, what?” Amanda said. “There are people out here who are getting married, and it isn't about love?”
“The world is a stranger place than you think,” Glendella said. “People are out here getting married for all kinds of reasons. But what they can't buy and never seem to marry for either is common sense.”
Amanda considered this, and then just watched as the Greylingtons went cussing around the block again and Capt. Hamilton waved while cruising by in not-so-hot pursuit.
“What is that – four times around?” Glendella said.
“Yeah, I think so,” Amanda said. “So, you were there at the wedding – what was all that for?”
“So, Mr. Greylington's grandfather lost his son on some foolishness,” Glendella said, “and so locked down his inheritance for his grandson in a trust that required grandson Greylington to get married and stay married to get the money. Mrs. Greylington is a bottle blonde and contact lens blue-eyed student of Bad Grandma, and is just there for the money because Mr. Greylington can't get to it without her. They had a child, but God said no and took the child on to Heaven so she wouldn't have to live through that – but they are blaming each other even though my Sunday School teacher told them where Gretchen is.”
“I like Sis. Mosette so much!” Amanda said. “I love that you shared her with us because we have so much more fun learning aboug God with her on Zoom! Not that Papa and Grandma and Cousin Harry and Cousin Maggie don't teach us, but Sis. Mosette is just different!”
“I know!” Glendella said. “I thank God for her because she really went the extra mile along with Uncle Vanderbilt and Aunt Susanna!”
“So, why aren't the Greylingtons listening?” Amanda said.
“Because it isn't about understanding anything; it's about getting to the money although you hate the person you gotta do it with,” Glendella said as the Greylingtons came yelling around the corner again.
Amanda just watched, and then waved back at Capt. Hamilton as he cruised by in not-so-hot pursuit again.
“Cousin Ironwood doesn't really have any money compared to how big his family is,” Amanda said, “but, they love each other and so they are super rich.”
“That seems to be really common around here!” Glendella said. “It is far better!”
“Well, of course it is!” Amanda said. “We could be out here wasting gas and time fighting with each other in a car, or, we could be talking with Papa who loves us and be getting cotton candy! It's common sense!”
“Yeah,” Glendella said, and the two girls went off to go talk their grandfather, who loved them, into going to that special store and getting all eight grandkids some cotton candy.
