Regulars around here know that every so often I bring you stories sent to me by my real life friends Vickie and Cecil from a pretty small town area. Pretty regular they have good front page stories in the Fayette County Record.

But today  they hit the Trifecta of Journalist Magic. I’m gonna put the front page here, but you’re gonna have to open it up in another page to read it. Go on. I’ll wait here for you.

Welcome back.

First off, I cannot believe that there is a place called the Lucky Leopard Lounge in Smithville and I have never been there.  I also am dubious about it taking a three month investigation to arrest three people for gambling.  Honey, this is Texas. Any damn food knows you wait until November 27th when Texas A&M plays LSU and you can arrest a standing room only crowd. You’ll probably get the snot beat out of you but that’s the price you pay for law and order.

Then ya got the Daredevil Mayor of LaGrange (where the actual Best Little Whorehouse in Texas was located) riding in the Lickskillet parade last Saturday.  Honey, it takes a daredevil just to be mayor of LaGrange. Vickie, who is far more cultured than I am, explained to me that Lickskillet festivities come from the saying that if you show up late for dinner all that will be left for you is to lick the skillet.

But the reason she sent the newspaper is about the books in schools.  A fourth grader’s mom was upset that her daughter brought home a book about LGBTQ because the child didn’t know who LGBTQ means. The mom was sad because the school usurped the opportunity for her to have a sensitive conversation with her child about … well, that. The mom said, “in a world where this is plastered everywhere, I felt like the school library would be a safe place for her.” Safe from what? Ignorance?

And the use  of “plastered” doesn’t lend itself to a sensitive conversation.

And then she dives head first into the shallow end of the art world. Last year her daughter came home with an art history book that had nakkid women in it.  Nakkid, I tell you. She pitched such a fit that they transferred the book to the high school, where in her words, “I am sure the high school boys are loving it.” And, Mom, maybe even some of the girls. And let’s not forget students who like art.

To his credit, Vickie says the superintendent seemed shocked by it all and the newspaper ran an editorial about the inadvisability of censorship.

By the way, if you’re ever in Fayette, don’t forget to stop at Hruska.