Eerie Indiana Double Drabble: Investment Economy

[froodle]

"Thousands of taxpayer dollars in genetic research and gene fabrication," said the Mayor. "And you've spent it all on... on pantyhose?"

The lady from the Eerie Chamber of Commerce glared at him from behind the sharp-angled lenses of her cats-eye glasses.

"Winston," she said. "Once again your lack of vision astounds even me, a near-sighted person requiring a strong prescription just to read the labels on a cereal box."

The Mayor opened his mouth, but the woman from the Eerie Chamber of Commerce held up a hand.

"Interrupt me again and I shall garrotte you with my glasses chain," she warned him, her tone as sweet as the lilac candyfloss swirl of her hair and, the Mayor had just noticed, her colour-coordinated stockings.

"Every year, the women of Eerie waste thousands on bland, beige pantyhose that ladders, that sags or rolls or pinches. Every year, we spend our precious moments painting over torn hosiery with clear nail polish, or excusing ourselves to the bathroom to attend to an ill-fitting garter. This young lady has done away with all that, and I expect she will soon find that business is booming."

She leaned forward, smiling wide.

"And those profits need taxing."

Ongoing Verse: The Powers That Be



Preparations by froodle. Winston Chisel, the morning he became Mayor.

Confluence, in which Eerie experiences a midsummer and a full moon and takes full advantage of both

Harvest, in which it is 1979, and the Harvest Moon is rising

Hungry, in which the Mayor is unimpressed

Licensing, in which Chisel lays down some bureaucracy

Light Pollution, in which there is a newcomer in town

The Storm, in which Mayor Chisel has a very specific job for Eerie's resident weatherman

Not Welcome, in which there is an intruder at the World o' Stuff

Reading Room, in which Marshall looks around

Subsidence, in which the Loya Order of Corn experiances some structural issues

Shattered Dreams, in which there are space whales

Greenery, in which there are hanging baskets

Loss Prevention, in which there is hubbub at the Eerie Mall

Targeted Marketing, in which Radford has some promotional material

Capability, in which the are Bigfoots, and Marshall is unwell

The Listener, in which Eerie dreams, and Melanie watches

Populace, in which it is just another normal day

Still, in which there are worst things than Old Bob

Clockface, in which there is an early start, and a character death

CAT, in which two members of the Canine Liberation Army go on patrol, and have an unpleasant experience

Blue Apron, in which Mayor Chisxel considers an expansion to the town by-laws

National Garlic Day, in which there are vampires, and restauranteurs, and conflict

Housekeeping, in which there is a cult, and things get awkward

Strawberry, in which Eerie celebrates the summer

High Speed Sanitation, in which there is a street race

World Chocolate Day, in which there is a heatwave

Pressure Tactics, in which Chisel faces off against Eerie's ravens

Upgrade, in which there are changes happening at the Eerie Library

Waterlogged, in which there is a problem with the Eerie water supply

Bag for Death, in which Radford is a born salesman, and Radford is learning

Eww... in which Simon makes bad choices

Public Spaces, in which there is a soiree

Deterrent, in which there are pigeon spikes

The Bad News List, in which Dash is himself

Leisurewear, in which the Loyal Order of Corn has a surprisingly generous leave policy

Jackolantern, in which there is a disturbance at the local pumpkin patch

Pest Control, in which the Mayor is an unhappy customer

Frost Spiders, in which Eerie's Christmas decorations are very beautiful

Freelancing, in which Sara Sue takes a consultancy gig

Presentation, in which Chisel has an edict, and Simon has a plan

Email, in which Marshall is 29 and Eerie is never as far away as you think

Agenda, in which the Mayor takes a meeting

Visitor, in which Marshall's grandmother comes to stay