In my teeny town saw a local who asked if I would report on goings on in our hamlet and send it in to the paper, being as I was a writer and all. (!!) Writer my a**. I've written for two papers and had a few things published but that doesn't make me a "writer." Listen, ANYONE can write up whatever they please, and if it is community based, email it in to the paper and it'll be published. But I agreed to attend the next town improvement meeting and write it up. (Groan...)

This is how you'd find our hamlet, a dot in the road. Turn off Highway 98. You'll see a graveyard, well maintained, on the right, and a restaurant out of business on the left. On down to the left is a Baptist church. An elementary school is behind the church.A few hundred yards down on the right is the post office, behind it is city hall. Across from po is a newly opened coffee shop serving panini's and what else--coffee. I tried it--the panini was good, but not worth $7.00.

What all the local old fellas want is a place where they can sit and yakety yak and drink coffee all morning, and go behind the counter to refill their own cups. Of course the owner doesn't make any money on these meeting house convocations, and sooner or later, go out of business. The panini place has solved this problem by making access to the coffee pot difficult.

Next door to the post office is a general store, and the nicest lady who owns it is trying valiantly to stay in business. You can get the oil changed in your car, buy milk and bread, buy consignment items, local artwork, feed for deer and chickens, etc. Right down the road is a Trustmark bank branch that closes at 1pm on weekdays and on Saturday and Sunday. As you leave town, there's a Shell gas station that serves lunches.

That's all there is, and from the moment you turn off the highway and see the graveyard to the time you pass the Shell station takes 90 seconds max, if you drive leisurely. Also scattered near the road there's a water tower, a Church of God, and a Methodist church.
Lastly, this hamlet is wrapped in the arms of the chocolate brown Leaf River; but even floods can't wash us away. That's how it is in a teeny spot in the road in deep south Mississippi.
susil