Dear Reader:

Thank you for purchasing The Lost Tourist Franchise.

Donald emerged as one of my favorite characters when I was working on Deception
in Savannah, and I just couldn't get him out of my head as I egan to work on my ne!t
novel. I couldn't seem to make him understand that he didn't have a role in the new work.
"y way of catharsis, I decided to let him run for a little while, in hopes that he would
leave me in peace so that I could get ack to work. This is the result. I hope you enjoy
this part of his story.
#et me know what you think, either y a comment on my log,
www.clrdougherty.com , or y email at clrd$clrdougherty.com..
Thanks again,
%harles Dougherty
&&&&
The Lost Tourist Franchise
%. #. R. Dougherty
'ulished at (mashwords
%opyright )*++ %harles #. R. Dougherty
&&&&
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The Lost Tourist Franchise
"eside himself with e!citement, Donald didn't notice the three young thugs in their
hooded sweatshirts. They had marked him as a tourist y his goggle,eyed demeanor as
he amled out of the -etro e!it, and they were setting up their one,in,front, two ehind
pattern. The skinny, ragged kid in front stepped up and distracted Donald with, ./ey,
man ,, spare change01. 2ne of the others swung a sand,filled sock, striking him on the
ack of his neck. The third hoodlum deftly draped Donald's left arm around his shoulder
as the first one stepped in smoothly and took Donald's right arm. They half led, half
carried the semi,conscious Donald into the ushes and rifled his pockets.
Donald came to his senses as a eefy, middle,aged lack man mopped his face with
ice water from a plastic cup.
''3ha' happen0. Donald mumled.
.Doan know,. the man answered. ''Reckon someody ro you. 4ou etter jus' sit
heah fo' a minute. #et yo' head clear some..
Donald, his vision swimming as he fought to hold on to consciousness, figured that
was good advice.
.4ou see who hit me0. Donald 5ueried, a few minutes later, sitting up and giving the
ack of his neck a tentative ru.
.6o, man1 I do my es' not to see things like that. 7in't healthy. 3here you from,
anyhow0. The stranger tried to change the suject.
.I'm Donald Tompkins. I was raised in (avannah, ut I just got out of the 7rmy,
down to 8ort "ragg,. Donald responded, willing enough to talk aout something else.
./ow 'out yo' self0.
.I'm from right here in D.%., me,. the man responded. .-y name #uther, #uther
/odges. 9rowed up in (outheast, ut I move out to 7rlington some years ago. %ity done
got too rough..
Donald was coming around. /is vision was steady as he rolled himself to his knees,
racing his left hand on #uther's ended knee as he got to his feet. /e checked his
pockets, and discovered that indeed he had een roed. /is wallet was missing, along
with his final pay from the 7rmy. 3hat was he going to do0 :eff, his uddy from 8ort
"ragg, had dropped him off at the 'entagon %ity -all as :eff drove through 3ashington
on his way home to 6ew :ersey. Donald had stashed his meager elongings in a coin,
operated locker at the mall, and the key to that was missing from his pocket as well.
8ortunately, he had eaten a ig lunch at the mall's food court efore getting on the -etro,
so hunger wasn't an immediate prolem, ut it was on his mind. /e didn't have anywhere
to stay, either, ut it was springtime, and the weather was mild, so living rough for a
while wasn't out of the 5uestion.
/e didn't know anyody in D.%. 2utside of his 7rmy uddies, the only folks he
knew were ack home in (avannah. /is mother was old, and she was starting to get
feele. (he had een after Donald to come home when his 7rmy time was done, and he
thought he would do that, eventually. /is reckoning was that he had a little while to do
some traveling efore he had to go home. 7lthough his mother was still healthy, she was
impoverished, and she surely couldn't help him out of his predicament. 6ot that he
would ask, he reflected. /e had een self,supporting since his father passed away in
Donald's early teens. The urden of adulthood had come to rest on his shoulders at an
early age, ut he had always worked hard and done well enough. The 7rmy had een a
good thing for him after he had struggled to make a living when he finished high school.
/is father had een a self,employed carpenter, and had passed his skills on to Donald, ut
the market had een down when Donald finished school. /e had tried free,lancing as a
handyman for a couple of years, ut it was tough going. /e had plenty of opportunities,
ecause the 5uality of his work and his pleasant manner ensured that his customers
always sent usiness his way. 2nce he reali;ed that he was passing up the est jos
ecause he didn't have a truck and the necessary tools, he decided a stint in the service
might give him a chance to amass some money to use in uilding his usiness.
/e had een a good soldier, avoiding the pitfalls that 8ayetteville, 6orth %arolina, a
5uintessential 7rmy town, had put in his way. /e rarely drank and didn<t chase women=
the only ones he encountered were not worth catching. /e had assiduously saved his
money until his 7unt >li;a had gotten sick. There was no one else to help her and his
mother, so it fell to Donald to keep them afloat until they were ale to get '#i;a into a
-edicaid,funded nursing home. /e'd had only a few months left to recoup his savings
efore his hitch was up, and he had left 8ayetteville with a hundred dollars in cash and a
cashier's check for ?@,***. It wasn't 5uite as much as he thought he needed to start his
handyman's usiness, ut it was a good eginning. /e was regretting his decision to do a
little sightseeing in 3ashington efore going home. 6ow, he was in 3ashington ,, roke.
/e hoped the cashier's check could e replaced, ut he recalled that the woman at the
ank that issued it had warned him to treat it like cash, ecause replacing it would e
difficult, re5uiring months of waiting.
.3hat now, Donald0. #uther interrupted Donald's thoughts. .4ou got somewhere to
go0 (omeody to call, can he'p you0.
.Don't know noody 'round here, #uther. 7in't anyody I can call, either, ut I'll get
y. 7lways have. (omethin' happen to see me through..
.I like yo' spirit, rother,. #uther said softly. .-aye I can he'p you some. 4ou got a
nice, easy way aout you. I might could use you in my usiness. 4ou ever sell anything0
4ou know how to hustle0.
Donald was heartened at first, until #uther's final 5uestion. .I een in the handyman
usiness efore the 7rmy. I can find work for myself, fi!in' near 'out anything, ut I
don't do nothin' ain't legal,. he worried aloud, wondering what #uther meant aout
hustling.
.Don<t fret. I ain't into nothin' against the law. Too many ways to make it without
getting< heat on you,. #uther said. .3hy don't you come on ack to my place for a
while0 I tell you what I got goin'= get you fed this evenin'. 4ou can crash with me an' see
what you think. -aye we do some usiness together, maye not. Don't matter. It's the
right thing fo' me to he'p someody in troule. "een me enough times so's I know..
#uther led Donald ack down the escalator into the -etro station and ought him a
fare card. They caught a train ack to 'entagon %ity, and Donald told #uther aout
leaving his duffel ag in the coin,operated lockers there.
''3e talk to the mall security folks 'out it,. #uther promised. 3hen they got to the
mall, he dutifully led Donald to the security office, although he knew there was little
purpose to the visit. #uther thought it est not to deprive Donald of the richness of his
own e!perience.
Donald told the overweight mall cop in the ill,fitting lue la;er what happened.
The man was helpful, in a ored way, and gave Donald a report form to fill out.
.%an you rememer which locker you used0. The man 5ueried, dout in his voice,
as he took the completed form from Donald.
''(i!teen,. Donald responded, with prompt certainty.
''#et's go take a look,. the man replied, surprised. .-ost folks can't rememer the
numer without the key,. he e!plained, as they walked out to the ank of lockers in the
passageway on the ground floor of the parking garage. The key was in locker numer
si!teen, and the locker was empty.
./appens once every day or two,. the guard commented, seeing the dismay on
Donald's face. .The gangs watch the lockers. 3hen they see someody leave something
they figure is worth stealing, they follow the person, roll 'em, and take the key. Then
someody hurries ack here and empties the locker. %ops will get around to catching
them one day, I guess. -eantime, figure your stuff's in a trash in somewhere. (orry, ut
there's not much more I can do for you. I'll give the police a copy of the report ne!t time
they come y, ut don't e!pect to hear from them..
.Thanks,. Donald said, as the man headed ack to his office. /e turned to #uther, an
unspoken 5uestion on his face.
.%ar's here,. #uther e!plained, .too hard to drive and park in the District..
Donald's eyes ugged out as they walked up to a shiny, new, lack %adillac. /e
figured it must e a mile long. #uther must e up to some sort of crookedness to drive a
car like this. 3ell, he would hear the man out. 7fter all, he didn't have any other
prospects, and he didn't know for sure that #uther wasn't on the up and up. /e sure didn't
seem like an honest, rich guy, though. 2n the other hand, his kind, gentle manner didn't
fit the notion that he was a criminal, either. .:ust see what happens,. Donald counseled
himself.
#uther's high,rise condo overlooking the 7rlington 6ational %emetery did nothing to
ease Donald's an!ious feelings aout his enefactor. /e had never een in a place like
this, and he followed nervously as #uther handed the car keys to a uniformed doorman.
.9ood evening, -r. /odges,. the man murmured, as #uther slipped a folded ill into his
hand with the keys.
.Thank you, 3alter,. #uther responded. .I think we're going to eat in this evening,
so just park it for me when you get a chance..
.4es, -r. /odges, very good, sir,. the doorman replied, touching two fingers to the
ill of his cap in salute as Donald and #uther entered the loy.
Donald noticed that #uther's speech was suddenly more refined, more in keeping
with his current surroundings. /e wondered if #uther had een talking down to him all
along, and whether he should resent that. #uther was ecoming more of a pu;;le minute
y minute, Donald thought, as #uther checked with the concierge at the front desk for
mail and messages. 3hat had he stumled into with this guy0
Donald continued to wonder aout his new companion as the well,appointed elevator
whisked them smoothly to the +)th floor. #uther was asored in flipping through his
mail, so Donald kept his 5uestions to himself. 2nce they were in the foyer of #uther's
condo, #uther dropped his mail on a small side tale and turned to Donald.
.3elcome, Donald,. #uther eamed, as he ushered Donald into the living room.
.3hat can I get you to drink0 (oda, eer, sparkling water0 I don't keep hard stuff
around, 'cause I'd just drink it,. he chuckled, ruefully.
.Reckon a eer would e fine, thanks,. Donald said, ga;ing through the glass wall
opposite the couch. .That's some view of D.%. you got, #uther. 3hole city looks like it's
spread out just for us to look at..
.4ep. I can just sit here for hours, looking, thinking how lucky I am not to e
cleaning windshields at some traffic light in (outheast,. #uther said from the kitchen, as
he rummaged in the refrigerator. .That was the first way I ever found to make money
without gettin' in troule.. /e set a tray with two frosted mugs of eer and a owl of
chips with salsa on the coffee tale and settled into the soft leather of the couch.
.Take a load off your feet, Donald. I got more room here than I need, so you ought
to just make yourself at home until you get sorted out..
.3ell, that's mighty kind of you, #uther, ut I don't want to e in your way..
.There's noody living here ut me, so don't worry aout eing in the way,. #uther
said, sipping his eer. .I got an e!tra edroom with its own ath, and noody ever uses
it. I spend most of my time working, so I'm not around much e!cept in the evenings. 6o
wife, no children. Too whipped from work to keep up any friendships. I'd welcome your
company for as long as you need a place to stay..
.(o, #uther, what is it you think I might e ale to help you sell0. Donald 5ueried,
pu;;led at why someody as well off as this man would e willing to take in a total
stranger, and feeling the need to make himself worthy of #uther's eneficence.
.3ell, mostly what I sell is help, Donald. I'm sort of in the tourist usiness.
3ashington gets lots of tourists from all over the world, and it's a pretty city, ut it's
confusing for strangers. #ots of folks get lost and need help finding their way around..
Donald pondered that as #uther took another swallow of eer and dipped a corn chip
into the salsa owl. /e knew 3ashington was a tourist attraction, and he could well
imagine that people fre5uently lost their way. /e had taken a 5uick look at the map
posted on the wall of the -etro station, and registered the geometric ut unusual layout
of the city's streets. /e recalled the image, with some streets oriented like spokes of a
wheel and lot of little short cross streets joining them, many appearing to dead end and
then reappear a few locks later.
.(o, are you a tour guide0. /e asked, reaching for a chip.
.3ell, in a way. I used to e a sort of tour guide. 3hen I first started out, though, I
was selling roasted peanuts on the 6ational -all. -ostly folks fed 'em to the pigeons
and s5uirrels, you know. Those critters are real panhandlers, 'specially the s5uirrels.
They'll just aout come up to you and tug on your pants leg to get you to notice 'em.
They get fed so often they don't ever think that someody might not have anything for
them. I've seen 'em chase little kids with ags of popcorn, tryin' for a handout. 7nyhow,
every few minutes, seemed like, someody would ask me for directions. '"out half the
time, they'd come ack, say they got lost, and ask again. 6ow, I could sell roasted
peanuts just aout anywhere on a pretty day, so if the folks were nice enough, I'd walk
'em far enough so I could point out whatever they were looking for. -ost of them would
give me a tip. I finally figured out that I was making more money from tips than I was on
peanuts, after I took out the cost of the peanuts, and the ags, and roasting, so I figured
I'd just try my hand at helpin' folks find their way. That's what free enterprise is all aout=
it's what makes this country great. If you've got an idea for makin' money, nothin' stops
you from just trying it out. I would look for folks who were lookin< confused, and offer
to walk <em to where they wanted to go.. #uther paused for another sip of eer and a
few chips.
.That's what you do now0. Donald wondered aloud.
#uther chuckled. .6aw. That didn<t really work too well. 'eople are funny. 3hen I
was selling peanuts, tourists saw a ig, friendly lack man, working for a living, and they
were comfortale with that. They'd ask for directions, and I'd give them directions.
They'd get lost, and if they saw me again, still selling peanuts, they'd ask me for etter
directions, and they had a little more confidence in me, ecause I was still there, still
doing my thing. If I took the time to walk along with them for a little way, they felt
oligated, ecause they thought they had taken me away from my work. 3hen I didn't
have that asket of peanuts, the tourists would see this ig lack guy approaching them,
offering to show them around, and they figured I was a street hustler of some kind ,, a
panhandler, or worse. Their reactions confused me. 7t first, I thought it was racism or
something. They acted scared, or irritated, and noody would take me up on my offer..
#uther chuckled again. .It didn't take me too long to figure it out. I had to e doing
something that looked right to them, or they saw me as a threat. The peanut thing worked
okay, ut that asket was ig and clumsy, and selling the peanuts cut into the time I had
to show people around, so it also cut into my earnings. 8inally, I hit on the idea of
offering my services as a tour guide. I got a white shirt with '#uther's Tours and
(ightseeing' emroidered on the front over the pocket and in ig letters on the ack, and I
got a few rochures made up at a copy shop, so I could hold something non,threatening
in my hand..
.(o, you really are a tour guide, huh,. Donald mused.
.3ell, only if free enterprise demands it,. #uther answered. (eeing Donald's
perple!ed look, he went on. .It's just that, wearing that shirt, with a handful of rochures,
I'm a usinessman again, not a threat. 6ot only that, ut if someody's lost, who etter to
give them directions than a tour guide0 (ame idea as the peanuts, ut an even etter way
to get their confidence so I can help 'em. >very so often, I used to get roped into doin' a
real tour, ut only if it was a slow day and I liked the folks. "eing a tour guide is more
like work than free enterprise..
Donald followed #uther's story thoughtfully. #uther was a smart man= that was for
sure. It ama;ed Donald that he could make enough money to pay for the %adillac and
live in this condo, just giving lost people directions. /e looked over at #uther as they
each took a sip of eer. .6ot workin' today, though. /ow come0. he ventured, as the
thought formed.
.4ep. I was workin' when I found you. 3hy you think I wasn't0.
.'lain shirt,. Donald answered.
.'retty sharp, Donald. That's good. That's the kind of sharp eyes and 5uick thinking
you need if you're going to work with me. "ut I'm not e!actly working the streets
anymore. -y system works so well, I started franchising it. 4ou know aout
franchising0.
.#ike -cDonald's0. Donald asked, raising his eyerows.
.>!actly. -e, I'm like the -cDonald's of the 'helping lost tourists in 3ashington'
usiness,. #uther responded, with a grin. .4ou hungry yet0 There's a ri place not far
away that delivers, if that sounds good..
.That'd e great,. Donald replied.
3hile #uther went into the kitchen to phone in their dinner order, Donald pondered
everything #uther had told him. /e figured that #uther was a con artist, ut it sounded
like he was good,hearted, and maye he provided a useful service. Donald knew what
franchising was, ut he couldn't figure out how it applied in #uther's case. /e thought
that getting any kind of franchise re5uired an investment of some sort, so maye that was
how #uther made his money. 3as he into some kind of pyramid scheme, like multilevel
marketing0 Donald had read aout those. (omehow, #uther just didn't seem like a
scammer to Donald, ut he knew well that the est con men always came across as
straight arrows. 2therwise, they couldn't con anyody.
#uther reappeared with fresh eers for oth of them, ending Donald's ruminations for
the moment.
.Ris'll e here in aout ten minutes,. #uther commented. .I think you should just
make my rounds with me tomorrow= get a feel for what it is I do. That's etter than
spending an evening trying to e!plain it, and you'll get a good chance to see the sights in
D.%. to oot..
.(ounds good to me,. Donald agreed, and they spent the rest of the evening enjoying
each other's company, talking aout Donald's time growing up in (avannah, and their
diverse e!periences in the military. Donald discovered that #uther was a Aiet 6am
veteran, which made him old enough to e Donald's father. That surprised Donald,
ecause #uther was so energetic. /is enthusiasm made him seem younger, closer to
Donald's own age.
&&&&
Donald woke up to sunlight streaming through the window of #uther's guest room.
/e'd spent some time after he went to ed tossing and turning, worrying aout a way out
of his dilemma. >ventually, though, sheer e!haustion took hold, and he slept soundly.
/e felt fresh and ready for the new day, eager to see 3ashington. /e was also curious to
discover what #uther's .rounds. involved. /e got dressed and followed the smell of
freshly rewed coffee to the eat,in kitchen, where he found #uther adjusting the flame
under a pan of eggs. The scent of acon wafted from the microwave oven.
.9' mornin', Donald,. #uther greeted him, handing him a mug of steaming coffee.
.%ream and sugar's on the counter. Rest well0.
.I sure did, #uther, thanks. /ow 'out you0. Donald responded.
.I'm fine as frog's hair,. #uther 5uipped, loading up two plates with acon and eggs,
just as the toaster ejected four slices. .#et's eat and get at it1.
They wasted no words over reakfast, oth putting away the food like someone
might take it from them. #uther led the way to the elevator, which discharged the two of
them into an underground parking garage. They settled into the ig %addy, and #uther
drove them ack to the 'entagon %ity -all as they listened to the news on the radio.
#uther parked in almost the same place where the car had een last night, and, as they
walked to the -etro stop, he handed Donald five ?)* ills.
.4ou need some walkin' around money, Donald. Don't want you feelin' like I'm your
daddy or somethin', payin' yo' way all the time..
.Thanks, #uther,. Donald said, impressed with #uther's generosity as well as with
his sensitivity to Donald's feelings. .I'll pay you ack when I can..
.I don't dout it for a minute, ut don't e worryin' 'out it. The #ord smilin' on me
lately, and sharin's jes' plain right. "rings more lessin's,. #uther opined, his voice oily
with sincerity.
Donald cast a sidelong glance at #uther, trying to evaluate this pious graciousness.
This was a facet of #uther that Donald had not seen last night, and it seemed a little out of
character to him for a con man to e so preachy. 3as that part of his con0 3as he
conning Donald right now, and if he was, what did he hope to gain from it0 #uther was a
comple! character. Donald had not missed the fact that #uther's speech pattern was
shifting away from what Donald now thought of as .condo speak,. to something closer to
the street. #uther was like a chameleon, Donald thought, changing efore your eyes to
lend into his surroundings. "ut it was so smooth that it didn't seem conscious. It must
e a trait that #uther had evolved as he clawed his way out of the grinding poverty that
Donald pictured as his childhood environment.
#uther hadn't said much aout that part of his life, ut Donald could piece together
some of the fleeting images evoked y #uther's narrative last night. /e had descried his
career for Donald in terms of what he had learned aout getting along with people and
getting them to do what he needed them to do, with only incidental references to a
childhood that made Donald feel lucky. 9rowing up as a poor kid in (avannah, in a
home with two stale parents hadn't always een easy, ut Donald felt almost pampered
when he pictured what #uther's early days must have een like. Donald had grown up
thinking of himself as a poor lack kid in the (outh, ut when he joined the 7rmy, he was
e!posed to people who made him feel like he had a middle class ackground. /e was
getting that same sense again, thinking aout #uther.
.-an, you somewhere else, ain'tcha0. #uther said, grasping Donald's elow to guide
him onto the suway train. .4ou was gonna let that train go right on y. 3ha's gotcha
'tention0.
There it was again, Donald thought. #uther's ack on the street. .:ust thinkin' 'out
home, #uther,. Donald e!plained. .Reckon I was there instead of here. I etter get my
mind on my usiness. Thanks for lookin' out for me..
.6o prolem,. #uther mumled, as they oarded the train with all of the other rush,
hour commuters.
Donald looked around, studying his fellow passengers as the train whirred smoothly
on its way. /e and #uther didn't look at all out of place, holding on to the hanger straps
in the crowded suway car. There were all kinds of folks headed into the District for a
day's work: professional,looking men and women in conservative suits, people in
various military uniforms, oviously headed to the 'entagon, workers, dressed casually
ut neatly, like #uther and himself, and plenty of ovious tourists, in shorts, sandals, and
T,shirts with all kinds of slogans, advertising everything from their se!ual preferences to
-ickey -ouse. Donald was feeling overwhelmed y the crowd y the time the train
stopped at the 'entagon and discharged most of the uniformed passengers. /e and
#uther took a pair of recently vacated seats as the thinned,out crowd adjusted itself to fill
the newly opened space in the car. (ort of like one of those amoeas, Donald mused,
rememering staring in wonder through a microscope in the high school iology la.
Donald couldn't hold onto that thought for very long. /e was e!cited all over again
,, going to see 3ashington, and this time, he had someody with him that knew what was
what. .#uther, you sure you got time for me to see the sights0 I know you got work to
do,. Donald worried aloud.
.6o sweat, Donald, we gonna e right in the middle of all the sights you want to see.
Tha's where my work happen,. #uther e!plained. .-y men all got to e where they can
he'p the tourisses. Tha's jus' the way it has to e, so you e ale to see everything, no
prolem..
/e's in full street mode, thought Donald. /e wondered why that wouldn't put the
tourists off, as he rememered #uther's e!planations from last night of how he had to
adjust his appearance and ehavior to gain the confidence of his marks, as Donald was
privately thinking of the tourists. 7gain, Donald couldn't hold on to his train of thought.
There was too much going on around him, and in his mind, he could hear a cacophony of
chattering voices, thoughts, vying for his attention. /ow could he make money to pay
#uther ack0 /ow was his mother0 3hat was that woman in the too,short -ickey
-ouse T,shirt thinking, going to 3ashington dressed like that0
(he wore tight,fitting running shorts that rode low on her hips, e!posing much of her
thong underwear in the ack, and a tattoo of a snake disappeared into the front elow her
waistand. (he appeared to e with a scruffy looking man in a wife,eater T,shirt
advertising some -e!ican eer that Donald didn't recogni;e. The guy was alding on top
and had a ponytail. The ponytail reminded Donald of what his 8irst (ergeant at 8ort
"ragg always said when he saw a man with a ponytail.
.#ookit all these people, #uther1 3here they all come from0 3hy they all here0.
Donald lurted.
#uther smiled at Donald's outurst. .3ashington's the capital of the whole world,
Donald. >veryody ends up here sometime or other, I reckon..
"ut Donald was already ack at 8ort "ragg, listening to the 8irst (ergeant. .4ou
know what you always find when you look under a pony's tail,. he could almost hear the
shaven,headed sergeant. /e had discovered in asic training that his mental processes
weren't like those of his fellow recruits. Donald's thoughts were always si;;ling like
drops of water on a hot, greasy skillet. /is mind raced in all different directions at once=
each input, whether visual or auditory, sent him off along several paths simultaneously, so
that he was often out of synch with the people around him.
.#uther, I get confused pretty easy in crowds. Don<t lemme get lost, okay0. Donald
said in a worried tone to #uther, rememering how a drill instructor had once ordered,
.8orward, march1. The rest of his platoon had marched away, leaving Donald standing
ehind at rigid attention as he pondered some fragmentary thought.
.Donald, it'll e fine. 4ou just stick close to me ,, don<t e wandering off. 6o
prolem,. #uther smiled over at him.
Donald's mind had already moved ack to 8ort "ragg again. /e was rememering
how he had learned to cope with his lack of focus. /e had egun memori;ing the
patterns of ehavior that preceded every command, and, after some trial and error, he was
ale to respond appropriately, even though his attention wandered freely.
.2kay, #uther, I stay right on your coattails,. he replied asently, as he recollected
how he and his instructors had discovered that, while he might have the attention span of
a gnat, he had the memory of the proverial elephant.
/e fell ack on his hard,won coping skills as he fought the distractions of the
endlessly fascinating people on the train. /e needed to figure out how his current
situation worked, so that he wouldn't disappoint #uther. #uther had een awfully good to
him, even if he might not e what he seemed.
The train whined to a halt, and #uther stood up. Donald was right ehind him.
.3hy they all like -ickey so much, #uther0. he wondered aloud, surprising himself.
./uh0. #uther looked askance at Donald.
.The lady's shirt, with the ponytail man,. Donald mumled y way of e!planation.
#uther shook his head, pu;;led, as they shuffled along in the crowd, the myriad
noises making conversation impossile as they passed through the turnstile. Donald
concentrated on rememering what he needed to know, so he wouldn't e caught out if
#uther asked him a 5uestion. /e recogni;ed that they were in the (mithsonian -etro
stop, near where his mugging had taken place, so he made an e!tra effort to e alert to his
surroundings.
.(ituational awareness,. Donald spouted, drawing 5ui;;ical looks from everyody
around him. .That's what they called it in the 7rmy,. he e!panded, not reali;ing that he
was giving voice to his thoughts, wondering why the people looked at him strangely as
#uther put a hand on his shoulder and guided him through the ma;e. /e surely hadn't
een aware of his situation yesterday, and look where it had landed him. 6ot going to
repeat that mistake. /e might e a tourist, ut he wasn't going to e a victim again.
7s they stepped from the escalator, he was again da;;led y the right sunlight. /e
kept close to #uther in the press of the crowd, until it egan to disperse. (oon, he and
#uther were walking y themselves. They were a few yards away from the suway
entrance when a slender, well,groomed white man aout Donald's age approached them.
Donald noticed his white polo shirt with .#uther's Tours and (ightseeing. emroidered
prominently over the reast pocket, just as the man spoke.
.-orning, "oss,. the man greeted #uther.
.-orning, Tony. /ow's the take0. #uther asked.
.#ittle slow yet, ut looks like it'll e a good day,. Tony replied, eyeing Donald.
.>v'yday what you make it,. #uther commented. .Tony, meet Donald. /e thinkin'
aout joinin' us..
.9ood to meet you, Donald,. Tony smiled as he shook Donald's hand.
.Tony my manager fo' this area,. #uther e!plained. ./e got five people workin' fo'
him, he'ppin' los' tourisses. 7in't that right, Tony0.
.That's right, "oss,. Tony agreed.
.4ou got a few minutes, talk to Donald 'out our usiness0 I need to walk around a
little, see how it feel out here today,. #uther said, melting into the crowd spilling out of
the -etro e!it.
.(ure thing, #uther,. Tony said to his retreating ack, turning to Donald.
.(o how'd you meet #uther0. he asked, his eyes constantly checking the crowd, ut
his attention still on Donald.
Donald e!plained how #uther had found him after his mugging late yesterday.
.4eah, that's #uther all the way,. Tony said. ./e's always looking out for people that
need a hand. I was out of work, homeless. "een on the street for several months when
he came up and started talking to me. I was stunned. 3hen you're a street person, most
folks don't even see you. I'd gotten so used to eing treated like I was invisile that I
thought he was talking to someody else at first. 3hen I looked around, there were just
the two of us. /e ought me a hot meal. 9ot me cleaned up and put me to work. 6ow
I'm making an honest living, outdoors, dealing with friendly folks. I owe it all to #uther.
.(o how does this franchise thing work, Tony0. Donald asked. .#ooks like #uther
does all right for himself out of it..
.4eah, I guess he does,. Tony responded. .I started with him early in the game.
There was just #uther and another fella, who's moved on. #uther's almost hypnotic when
he gets hold of someody looking for directions. /e's a real genius at getting people to
trust him, and he always makes sure they go away happy with whatever it is he does for
them.
./e taught me to project respect whenever I approach someody, and use eye contact
and ody language to get them to ask me for help. 2ne of his rules of thum is that you
should always speak first, ut never volunteer information, or ask for anything from a
client. :ust greet them, welcome them to 3ashington, and look confident and helpful.
It's like fishing ,, you toss out a aited line, and let them come to you,. he e!plained.
.3hat do you mean y 'client0'. Donald mused aloud. .3hy do you call them
that0.
.3ell, it's all part of the attitude that you have to develop to e good at this,. Tony
remarked. .%alling them clients gives you the right mind set, instead of calling them
tourists, or customers..
.I see,. Donald said, although he was skeptical.
&&&&
.(o, 'ja tell Donald all the dirt on me, Tony0. #uther interrupted, materiali;ing at
Donald's side.
.6ot enough time,. Tony joked. .That would take days..
#uther chuckled. .%ome on, Donald. #e's let Tony make some money. 3e go see
the sights. 9et you where you know yo' way 'roun'. 4ou gotta do that efo' we can put
you to work, anyhow..
#uther and Donald spent the rest of the morning walking around the 6ational -all.
#uther kept up a running commentary on everything they passed, naming all of the
uildings and descriing what each one was, and what was important to know if you were
showing people around.
Donald was 5uietly oservant, cataloging all the information that #uther offered, and
noticing that as #uther delivered his tour guide spiel, he shifted smoothly ack to .condo
speak.. That intrigued Donald. 3hile on one level Donald was filing away all of the
information #uther offered, on another level he was noticing how many people scattered
through the crowd wore #uther's Tours shirts. They didn't really draw attention to
themselves, ut there were at least )* of them that Donald counted, and he noticed that
every one of them was engaged in cheerful conversation with a few ovious tourists. /e
was impressed.
"y midday, they had made their way to the west end of the -all, having made a
complete circuit, plus a it. They ought 'olish sausages and sodas from a street vendor,
and sat on a park ench to eat their lunch. Donald watched with interest as #uther
fumled in a pocket for a ag of peanuts, which he egan to feed to a couple of pigeons.
(oon, they were surrounded y s5uawking irds. (everal s5uirrels joined the fray, as
well, cavorting to get #uther's attention in hopes of a special handout. The pigeons and
s5uirrels soon attracted a crowd of children, parents in tow. #uther gave each child a
handful of peanuts, and resumed eating his lunch as the children gleefully took over
feeding the collected critters.
.#ike a aited hook,. Donald remarked, nodding in understanding.
.3hat are you talkin' aout, Donald0.
Donald looked at #uther, his confusion plain on his face. .I say somethin'0.
.4eah, well, it helps me rememer how I got here,. #uther said, pu;;led. .9ood for
me to keep my perspective. 3hen we finish eating, I'll show you around the monuments
and we'll go over to the Tidal "asin efore I make a final check with all my folks and call
it a day..
Donald chewed thoughtfully, still wondering aout #uther.
&&&&
That evening, once they were settled on the couch with cold eer and crisp, salty
corn chips, #uther asked, .3ell, Donald, what do you think aout my little usiness0.
.#ooks like you got lots of employees,. Donald responded.
.6ot really,. #uther e!plained. .7ctually, no employees. >veryody's an
independent usinessman. I never did like working for someody else, and I figure most
folks are the same way. It's the magic of free enterprise that makes us successful. 3e
call each other associates, ecause we've got this cooperative thing going, and that helps
keep our attitudes toward one another straight..
."ut you said Tony had five people working for him,. Donald ojected.
.'oor choice of words on my part,. #uther apologi;ed. .Tony's got five associates
that he's recruited and trained. (ort of like su,franchisees, ut each one of them is in
usiness for himself. 2r herself. 3e've got a few ladies that do really well. I don't pay
much attention to the him or her stuff. :ust whether someody's doing well or not. That's
all that matters..
.Tony said he was homeless when you found him,. Donald mused. ./ow many
associates were homeless when they started0.
.#ots of them. I never counted it up. 'eople are homeless for lots of reasons,
though. 3e look for folks that can make it on their own. 3e'll work with someody
that's down on their luck, living on the streets, ut no whack,jos or druggies. 7nyody
can fall on hard times, ut we look for the ones with that spark in their eyes. 9otta e
smart, willing to learn, and elieve that they can make it on their own. #ike you. 4ou
told me right off that you were going to make it. '(omething always comes along,' you
said. 2r words to that effect. That something is opportunity, and the folks who think it's
coming along are the ones who always find it..
Donald was surprised at what #uther had recalled from their early e!change, ut he
wasn't flattered. /e just recogni;ed that #uther was paying attention and rememering
things that could e useful to him later.
./ow does this franchise thing work, #uther,. he asked. .-ost franchises that I
know aout, you have to uy into them with some money up front, and then there are fees
ased on your sales, and the company selling the franchise helps out with training, and
supplies, and what not..
.3ell, mine's not as complicated as all that, ut the idea's the same. -ost folks we
recruit don<t have the money to uy in up front, so we collect a percentage of earnings
that's pretty hefty in the eginning. Then, the more you make, the less we charge. (ort of
like financing that up,front fee. 3e give you that first shirt, and all the training you need,
and help you get started. That's all covered y the percentage. 2nce you're up and
running, and don<t need so much help, the percentage drops way down..
.I see,. Donald said. .(o what stops someody from just copying your idea0.
.Really, nothing,. #uther admitted. ."ut we work hard to make it worthwhile for
folks to e part of our organi;ation. %ompetition is fine. That's all part of free enterprise,
ut we do etter than the competition ecause we cooperate with one another. #et's say
you're helping someody and another lost tourist walks up. Instead of ignoring that
person, or making him wait while you finish, you signal one of your associates to come
help him. -akes us all look etter, and that's why it's worth paying that franchise fee,
ecause you get referrals like that from your associates. 3e've got crediility ecause of
those shirts, too. 'eople know aout us, and they tell other folks. If you help someody
on the -all one day, and the ne!t day they get lost out at 7rlington %emetery, they'll
recogni;e our associate there y the shirt, so they already know they can trust her, and
they're more likely to give her a good tip ecause they rememer the good e!perience
from the last time we helped them. 2r maye they heard aout how helpful the associate
at the 6ational Boo was from one of their friends. The more people we help, the etter it
gets for everyody..
.(uppose you help someody and they don't tip you0. Donald worried.
./appens,. #uther said, .ut not as often as you might think. 'eople appreciate
helpful folks, and the more it looks like you're going out of your way just to help them,
the less likely they are to stiff you. "ut, when it happens, it happens. 4ou just smile, and
say '9od less you. /ave a good vacation,' and go on your way. It's worth a minute or
two to try to figure out how you might could have done etter, ut only if you've got time
to kill. 6ever pass up the ne!t client worrying aout the one that got away. 3e don't care
how many people don't tip ,, we just care aout how many people do..
Donald was mesmeri;ed y #uther's enthusiasm and his positive outlook. It matched
his own view of his fellow humans. -ost people acted the way that you e!pected them
to act, in Donald's e!perience. There were always a few people who didn't, ut he
figured they were just having a ad day. 2nly seldom did he encounter people who were
just plain ad, like the hoodlums who mugged him. -ost folks were decent, if you gave
them a chance.
&&&&
The ne!t day, during reakfast, Donald said, .#uther, I think I'd like to give this
franchise usiness a try..
.9reat, Donald. I figured you would. I could just see it in your eyes when you said
good night. It's nice to have you aoard= you'll have fun with us, and make some money,
too. #et me get you a shirt, and then let's get out there amongst 'em..
They repeated yesterday's trip to the District, and when they stepped out of the -etro
(tation, #uther waved Tony over. .Donald's decided to join us, Tony,. #uther announced.
.9reat. 3elcome to #uther's Tours, man1. Tony e!claimed. .#et's start y you
watching me work the ne!t crowd that comes out of the escalator. 4ou stand ne!t to me
and look pleasant, ut let me do the talking the first few times. Then we'll get a soda and
talk aout what you've learned..
.4ou listen to Tony,. #uther coached. ./e's the est, and he's etter at training than I
am. I'll catch up with you two later..
Donald did as Tony instructed. /e watched carefully as Tony greeted the crowd that
spilled from the escalator. /e noticed that Tony let the first few people go y, merely
nodding pleasantly to them, until he spoke to a family of three. The folks came out and
looked around for a few seconds, consulting a dog,eared guideook as they peered this
way and that. Their little oy was tugging at his mother's camera ag, trying to get her
attention, when Tony spoke.
.9ood morning, folks. 3elcome to 3ashington.. he said, enthusiastically.
The couple glanced up from their guideook, taking in Tony's pleasant countenance
as he egan to turn away from them.
.2h, do you do tours0. the woman asked, taking her son's hand to keep him from
wandering into the crowd.
.3ell, only y special arrangement. 4ou looking for a tour0. Tony smiled, patting
the oy's head as he turned ack to face the family. .3here are you headed0.
.3anna see the dinosaurs,. the oy s5uealed.
.2kay, that's the 6atural /istory -useum,. Tony e!plained, pulling a -etro
rochure out of his hip pocket, along with a felt,tipped pen. /e unfolded the rochure to
display a sketch map of the -all, showing the major uildings and the -etro stops. /e
moved over to stand eside the parents, holding the map where they could watch as he
marked an .C. at the -etro stop where they all stood. .(o, you'll just walk up this way,
to our right, until you're past the uilding that looks like a castle,. he went on, as he
traced the route with his pen while the parents watched, intent on his directions. .Then,
you walk straight across the -all until you see the 6atural /istory -useum.. /e marked
another C. .If you get lost, just look for another person in a shirt like mine. 3e're all
around, and we're always glad to help you. -aye someday you'll take one of our tours,
ut in the meantime, have a good vacation, and take this map, with my compliments..
.Thanks,. said the father. .4ou've een really helpful. %an I uy you fellows a
%oke, or something0. he 5ueried, seeming to notice Donald for the first time.
.(ure,. smiled Tony, .ut we'd etter get ack to work. 2ur tour should e along
soon, so maye if you see us laterD.
.Take this, and cool off when you get a chance,. the father said, folding a ill into
Tony's hand as they turned to go.
.3hy, thank you very much, sir. 9od less you folks,. Tony said, as he and Donald
turned to find another couple trying to catch Tony's attention.
The morning passed 5uickly, with a train disgorging another crowd of lost tourists
every few minutes. Donald watched carefully, studying Tony's ody language, as well as
his smooth talk when he engaged someone. /e wondered aout the -etro rochures,
which Tony marked and passed out freely to everyone who stopped to ask for directions.
#uther had mentioned having rochures of his own. /e'd have to ask Tony aout that.
/e marveled that Tony seemed to know where everything was, too. That would e a
prolem for Donald, eing new in town. /e'd have to take a good look at a detailed
tourist map efore he went out on his own. 9et it fi!ed in his mind's eye, so he could
refer to it when he was answering 5uestions. 4ou had to know a lot to do this, he was
thinking, as Tony interrupted his musings.
./ey, Donald1 4ou there, "uddy0.
.(orry, Tony. :ust thinking aout how much I've got to learn. 4ou sure know your
way around..
.3ell, I've een at this for a while. It's aout lunchtime. #et's get a hotdog and find
a shady spot, and we'll talk aout it..
7s they sat on a ench, eating and resting their feet, Tony addressed Donald's
5uestions. /e e!plained that they had switched from using #uther's own rochures to the
-etro rochures ecause they were easier to get, and also ecause it made them look a
little more official. 7s to Donald's worry aout not knowing his way around very well,
Tony professed that, as long as Donald gave cogent directions in a confident manner, it
didn't matter if they were wrong.
.(ee, Donald, the folks were lost to start with, so they'll just figure they
misunderstood what you said. It doesn't matter ,, in fact, it's fine if they get a little more
lost. They'll just find another one of us to ask for directions, and each time, we'll get
them a little closer to where they want to go. That just means more opportunity for us to
help them, and more tips for all of us associates..
Donald understood what Tony was saying, ut it didn't sit well with his conscience.
There was something wrong with this, ut he couldn<t 5uite put his finger on it. /e
reali;ed his face must have etrayed his uncertainty, ecause Tony said, .:ust let it e
Donald. I know it sounds strange, ut after a while, you'll see that it works out all right..
Tony noticed that a crowd had just emerged from the escalator a couple of hundred
yards from where they sat. .3ell, guess lunch is over, Donald. 3e got more lost folks to
help,. he chuckled, as he led the way ack to their post, where they spent the rest of the
afternoon in much the same way they had passed the morning.
#uther showed up at aout E o'clock, appearing eside Donald as a crowd of
:apanese tourists strolled past. .:ust walked along ehind those folks, watching them
gawk at the city. It is a eautiful place, I guess. (ometimes I forget, ut I saw how it
caught their eye. 6othing like it in :apan, I reckon. /ow's the take, Tony0.
.I got aout ?@** myself, #uther. /aven't had a chance to check my folks, ut it was
a usy day..
.9lad to hear it. #et's go home, Donald. Talk aout it over a eer,. #uther
suggested.
&&&&
The ne!t morning over reakfast, #uther asked Donald how he felt aout trying it on
his own.
.6ervous,. Donald said. .('pose I mess up0.
.4ou got to start, Donald,. #uther replied. .(ure, you're gonna mess up every now
and then. 3e all do, ut noody'll know. Rememer, the clients are lost to egin with..
.4eah, Tony e!plained that to me, ut what if I don't get a tip0.
.4ou will. 4ou just got to keep trying. If you strike out, you get lots of chances to
try again. The eauty of this is there's a new trainload of prospects every few minutes,
and you never see the same folks twice. 3ell, almost never,. #uther reasoned.
3hen they got downtown, #uther conferred 5uietly with Tony for a few minutes, and
then said, .2kay, Donald, you're on1 (ee you at E o'clock.. Tony handed Donald a stack
of -etro maps as they walked away.
Donald gulped down his an!iety as he watched #uther and Tony disappear into the
distance. /e put aside his misgivings as a crowd of people emerged from the -etro e!it,
and he stepped forward, projecting an assurance that he didn't feel. /e was soon lost in
activity, with little time to reflect on what he was doing. The people seemed to line up in
front of him, waiting for his attention, and he responded to their 5uestions as est he
could, careful to ehave just as he had seen Tony doing. 3hen the crowds egan to thin
out at lunchtime, he found a shaded ench and sat down, reaching into his pocket to count
his money. /e was astonished to discover that he had collected over ?)** in the couple
of hours that he had een there. /e still didn't feel good aout it. /e had no idea where
to send the people most of the time= he just fell ack on Tony's advice to get them out of
his immediate vicinity so another associate could help them. /e graed a hotdog and a
soda, wolfed it down, and went ack to work as the afternoon's tourists egan to arrive.
/e had just worked his way through a trainload of prospects, and was recovering a
it when a man in a short,sleeved white shirt and a lack tie approached him.
.9ood afternoon,. Donald greeted him, sensing something slightly off aout the
man. /e was y himself, and he didn't act like a tourist. /e seemed too sure of himself.
.7fternoon,. the man responded. .7gent "ill %arver, D.%. #icensing "ureau,. he
droned, flashing a adge in a leather wallet at Donald. .I need to see your %ity 9uide
#icense, please sir..
Donald felt a sudden chill, and he could feel his lood pressure rising. #uther and
Tony didn't say anything aout any license. 3hat was he going to do0 /e looked around
frantically, hoping to spot Tony, or #uther, or another associate, ut no one was there.
.4ou new with #uther's0. 7gent %arver asked.
.Fhm, y,yessir,. Donald stammered. .8irst d,day..
.#uther didn't get you a license0. %arver didn<t look too surprised. .3e've told him
aout that efore. If he keeps doing this to you guys, we'll have to cite him. 9onna cost
him plenty, too, all for a ?G* license. That's just plain too ad. /e helps a lot of folks,
and we're glad to have all of you down here, ut rules are rules..
.4essir,. Donald s5ueaked, thinking that he sure would hate to cost #uther 'plenty'
after he had een so good to Donald. .7ny way to fi! this0. he asked. .I just didn<t
know. 3here can I get a license0 I don't want to cause troule for #uther. /e really
helped me out, here. -aye I can just go get one, keep him out of troule0.
%arver looked down, scuffing his lack, plain,toed o!ford in the dusty grass,
oviously pondering the situation. Donald's emotions ran the gamut from an!iety, to
despair, to hope, as %arver looked up and caught his eye.
.3hat's your name0. he asked Donald. .9ot some i.d.0.
.6ame's Donald Tompkins, ut I got mugged two days ago. Took everything I had,
so I got no i.d..
.3ell, that's just like #uther. /e's a good man, always helping folks like you. #ook,
Donald, I'm not supposed to do this, ut I don't want to make things harder on you..
7gent %arver reached in his hip pocket and took out an official looking pad, ulging with
different colored pages and several sheets of caron paper. .Instead of me giving you a
citation, why don't you give me ?G*, and I'll give you a receipt.. /e started writing in the
pad as he spoke. .4ou e here aout this time tomorrow, and I'll ring you a license,
okay0.
Donald's an!iety lifted like the morning dew in sunshine. .-an, that'd e great1 %an
I throw in something for your troule0. /e asked as he fumled out ten ?G ills.
.6o, that wouldn't e right,. %arver responded. .#icense is ?G*. 3ouldn<t e ethical
for me to accept personal payment from you. #et's just say it's my way of welcoming
you to 3ashington.. /e handed Donald the receipt and carefully smoothed the ills into
his pad. .(ee you tomorrow, Donald. /ave a good afternoon,. he said over his shoulder
as he walked away.
Donald went ack to his afternoon's work with renewed vigor, feeling 5uite pleased
that he had averted a prolem for his friend, #uther. That was really nice of 7gent
%arver, too. Donald had een afraid he was in serious troule there for a minute. /e had
visions of courtrooms and judges and jail cells while 7gent %arver was 5ui;;ing him. /e
needed to do something aout replacing his driver's license, too, he reminded himself.
That was a scary moment, when 7gent %arver had asked for i.d. and Donald had reali;ed
he had none. It was a good thing that 7gent %arver was such a nice guy, Donald
reflected, thinking again that most people were good,hearted if you just gave them a
chance.
Donald had noticed that the crowds of tourists vying for his attention were eginning
to thin out at aout the same time #uther and Tony walked up to him. ./ey, #uther,
Tony1. he greeted them, feeling pretty good aout his day.
./ey, Donald. /ow you doin'0. #uther asked, putting a hand on Donald's shoulder
and leading him over to an unoccupied park ench.
.Doin' fine,. Donald said, settling in the center of the ench, leaving room for Tony
and #uther on each side. .I think I had a pretty good day, and I got myself a license, too.
7gent %arver gonna ring it y tomorrow, so you don't need to worry 'out getting' one
for me, #uther..
#uther and Tony e!changed pu;;led looks. .3ho's 7gent %arver0. Tony 5ueried, as
#uther asked, .#icense for what0.
.4ou know, '%ity 9uide #icense,'. Donald e!plained. .7gent %arver was gonna give
us a citation at first, ut I told him how you had helped me after I got mugged, and he
said that sounded just like you, #uther, and he decided instead of a citation, I could just
give him the money and he'd ring me a license tomorrow. /e's a really nice guy, 7gent
%arver. Thinks a lot of you, too, #uther. I could tell..
#uther and Tony groaned simultaneously. .Donald, that guy's a scammer. %ops
ought to arrest him. /ow much he take you for0. #uther asked.
.Donald shook his head. .6o, #uther. /e not a scammer. /ad a adge, everything.
3ouldn't take any e!tra money, even though I offered him some for his troule. :ust the
?G* for the license, and he gave me a receipt.. Donald fished the carefully folded paper
out of his pocket and showed it to #uther and Tony. .(ee0.
#uther and Tony shook their heads solemnly. .6o, Donald, there's no such license,.
Tony e!plained.
."ut he show me his adge,. Donald protested.
."uy one of them adges just aout anywhere, Donald,. #uther said patiently.
.Don't feel too ad. /e got some of our other folks, too. 2ne of these days, we catch
him= teach him 'out licenses and adges. -eanwhile, what's your take0.
Donald emptied his pockets and egan smoothing the ills and counting them, first
giving #uther ack the ?+** that #uther had loaned him. They were all surprised when
the tally came to ?EHG.
.I elieve that's a record, #uther,. Tony remarked. .'(pecially for a first day..
.8irst day or not, still the record,. #uther agreed. .6oody done that in a day efore,
I don't think. %ountin' the ?G* that con man stole, you got over ?G**, Donald. 4ou a
natchul,orn hustler, ro'1 #e's us go home and drink some eer. (ee you tomorrow,
Tony..
&&&&
Donald was sudued that evening, in spite of #uther's praise. /e was emarrassed
on the one hand that he'd een conned out of ?G*, and on the other, he felt guilty that he
had taken so much from the lost tourists in e!change for giving them wrong directions.
6othing #uther said made him feel any etter. /e thought he was proaly just as much
a scammer as 7gent %arver with his fake adge, and he felt ashamed of himself. /e
knew etter than this. /is folks had raised him to know right from wrong, and there was
something aout #uther's franchise scheme that was just plain wrong.
#uther had e!plained to him that normally, his cut of the first week's take for a new
person was half, which he split with the manager doing the training. .(ince you had such
a good day, Donald, I figure you're done with training. I'll take my half of your take for
today, and from now on, you give me a fifth of your take, just like everyody else. /ow's
that sound0 That cheer you up some0.
.(ure 'nuff, #uther,. Donald said, doing his est to sound e!cited. .(ounds good.
Thanks for all your help.. /e counted out #uther's share of the money.
.Donald, don't feel ad that you got conned. /appens to all of us once in a while,
'specially when we're workin' hard. 6o time to pay attention to how someody's tryin' to
hustle you when you're usy makin' money,. #uther commiserated, figuring that was why
Donald was down in the dumps. .#et it go. 8ocus on how well you did for ninety,nine
percent of the time. 6ot the one percent when you let your guard down..
.Thanks, #uther. That's good advice. Thanks for takin' me in when I was down, too.
I really 'preciate it,. Donald said, forcing a sincere smile. .I'm eat. Reckon I etter call
it a day, so I can e up for tomorrow..
.2kay, man. Rest well,. #uther said, as Donald got up and walked down the hall to
the guest room.
&&&&
.Donald110. #uther called tentatively, wondering why Donald had failed to appear
for reakfast. .4ou up, man0 It's time to go get 'em.. #uther knocked firmly on the door
to the guest room.
3hen it was ovious that Donald was not responding, #uther eased the door open,
worry on his face. /e was surprised to see the ed neatly made, and at first, he didn't
notice the carefully folded shirt and the envelope on the pillow. 3hen they finally caught
his eye, he walked over and picked up the envelope. 'eering inside, he saw a thick stack
of used ills, and a page torn from a stationery store receipt ook. /e counted the ills
5uickly, reali;ing that it was Donald's share of his take from yesterday. The receipt had
dropped to the floor as he counted the rumpled ills. 3hen he picked it up, he saw the
note scrawled on the ack.
"Dear Luther,
many thanks for your kindness. I'll be well on my way home when you find this.
Reckon I was just another lost tourist when you found me, but you and Tony were good to
me, and I thank you for heling me find my way. If you e!er come to "a!annah, I hoe
you will look for me.
"incerely,
Donald"
The End
Thanks for reading The Lost Tourist Franchise. If you'd like to read more aout
Donald, follow his e!ploits in Deception in Savannah. 8or information aout my other
ooks, please visit my wesite.
ABOUT C.L.R. DOUGHERTY
%harles Dougherty wrote 5uite a it of fiction efore pulishing Deception in
Savannah, his first novel. -ost of his earlier fiction works took the form of usiness
plans, written to secure funding for projects and startup ventures during his corporate and
consulting work, ut he put all of that ehind him when he wrote Deception in
Savannah, a tongue,in,cheek crime novel.
(ince Deception in Savannah was pulished, he has written a numer of other
ooks. The Bluewater Thrillers are set in the yachting world of the %ariean and
chronicle the adventures of two young women running a lu!ury charter yacht in a rough,
and,tumle environment. The Connie Barrera Thrillers are also set in the %ariean
and feature some of the same characters from a slightly more romantic perspective.
"esides the Bluewater Thrillers and the Connie Barrera Thrillers, he wrote The
Redemption of Becky ones, a psycho,thriller, and The Lost Tourist Franchise, a short
story aout one of the characters from Deception in Savannah.
/e has also written two non,fiction ooks. Life!s a Ditch is the story of how he and
his wife moved aoard their sailoat, #lay $ctor, and their adventures along the east
coast of the F.(. Dun"da de #slan! relates their e!periences while cruising the
%ariean.
/e resides with his wife aoard #lay $ctor, sailing wherever their fancy and the
trade winds take them.
$ther %ooks %y C&L&R& Dou"herty
Fiction:
Deception in Savannah
Bluewater 'iller
Bluewater (en"eance
Bluewater (oodoo
Bluewater #ce
Bluewater Betrayal
Bluewater Stalker
Bluewater Bullion
Love for Sail) a Connie Barrera Thriller
The Redemption of Becky ones
Non-fiction)
Dun"da de #slan*
Life*s a Ditch
8or more information, please visit http:IIwww.clrdougherty.com.