Hi. Welcome to Granite Hill.  I mostly mind my own business, but I’ll show you around since you’re here.  You’ve probably passed through here before — stopped in the convenience store like you’re doing now. We’re a small town.  Like most small towns.  Lots of people know your business — or think they do.  Take Vihn Trank.  Most folks look at that young fella, and after they get done wondering how a 15 year-old can own this business and wonder which boat he came in on, might stop to realize he’s a third generation American.  He’s got no more idea what Vietnam is like than I have of France.  Think of it in those terms — or whichever country your ancestors affiliated with before coming to this side of the ocean.  My name’s deBonet. Hamilton deBonet.  You can see why people just call me Hambone.  Fits better.  While you’re at it? Vihn is thirty.  Not fifteen. He was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Texas, and he chose to set up shop here to serve an under-served area like Granite Hill.  Sure. Tourists stop in here, and they help a lot with the bottom line, but Vihn is here for the people of Granite Hill. And I’m here to help Vihn with his odd jobs he needs doing so he can focus on doing just that.

Walk with me a bit while I rub this mop over the floor.  I’m happy to talk, but I do have a job to do.  That girl over there?  Yeah. The preggo one with two rug rats hangin’ on?  That’s Danny Forrest’s oldest girl, Janie. Apple don’t fall far from the tree for that girl, and she’s bad news. Been bad news ever since Tiffany took her out partying at 14 and pimped her out to her friends.  She’s been poppin’ out welfare babies, turning’ tricks, and dealing drugs ever since.  Most a’ her kids take after her.  Half of ’em born in jail. This one probably will be, too.  She’s got a 16 year-old daughter due a month after her — or a month before.  I can’t keep up. She’s got a bi-racial boy.  I think he’s thirteen.  That boy’s got his shit together.  Because of him, maybe the younger ones will have a example to follow.  As bad news as she is?  Danny’s other kids are a parent’s dream.  Only one stayed in town.  If you’re planning on camping, you can’t go wrong staying at Dickie and Carolyn’s camp ground on the way out of town on the Enchanted Rock side.  Good people.

Ooh.  Lookie here.  Mr. Randall V. Grant IV.  Big man about town — don’t let his stature fool you none.  He’s not to be messed with, and he’s in here cuddling up to his whore.  I’m wondering what kind of explosion there might be if old Danny Forrest found out his best buddy from high school was doing his girl. On the other hand, anyone with a mind to has done his girl, so maybe he’s gotten over it by now.  Only one I feel sorry for is Miss Prissy, Randy Randall’s poor wife.  He had to marry her from out of town, because everyone in town knew all about Randy’s antics when he was younger, and no respectable girl would hitch her star to him even if he was from the richest family in town.  No one tells Miss Prissy, Priscilla is her real name, on account she’s not from here. Some things stay in the family if ya’ know what I mean.

Now out there at the pumps, see that man in the ball cap?  That there’s Brandon Wagner.  His family farm is down by Crabapple, Texas.  If you come up from the south, you probably went through that old ghost town.  Maybe you stopped there?  No?  Consider it sometime.  Worth the look.  In addition to taking care of his mommy and daddy, he done right by another man’s child.  Adopted him as his own, even when he couldn’t really afford it after he married the boy’s mom.  There’s a fun story about how those two got together.  If you’re here longer sometime I might share it with you.  I see you found your beverage of choice.  Probably anxious to get back on the road.  Nice talking to you.  I need to get back to my mopping.  Long way to go yet.  Have a  nice day!

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