Overheard at Chipperfield's ... part XII ...

One of the regulars came in the door. He paused at the front counter and picked up a copy of the book "Trails to Rails" written by Bob Mummery (Trails to Rails is the story of Minnedosa's history as a railroad town - available for $30). He thumbed through it briefly before replacing it on the pile with an audible snort.

"Hi" Anna greeted the regular with a smile, "what can I get you?"

"A large medium roast and a slice of carrot cake," he grumbled.

"Okay," answered Anna, "I'll bring it out to you."

"Thanks," replied the regular as he sat at the table with his usual group.

There were good mornings all around amongst the retired railroaders assembled there. Then one turned to the newcomer and his response to Mummery's book: "So, you don't like Bob's book?"

"Oh, it's not that," answered the newcomer as he removed his cap and set it on the empty chair beside him, "it's just that damned station."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well," the newcomer paused and scratched his grey hair, "it's just that everytime a group starts to do something new in town, everyone gets shirty about out."

"Like when?" asked the first regular.

"Well, remember when they built the hall?" offered the newcomer, "and all the hella-belloo over it. There were petitions to stop it. Everyone was complaining, no one wanted it. It was a real mess that divided the town right down the middle."

"I remember those petition," offered a third old timer, "they were circulating town. Even my neighbour wanted me to sign on."

"Yeah, there are still folks in town who won't talk to others over that ..." offered the newcomer, "and it all so darned silly."

"What do you mean?" asked the first regular.

"Well, I bet if we walked up Main Street today and asked the old timers we couldn't find a single person who would admit to signing any of the petitions, or even being against that Hall."

"True enough," the others at the table nodded in agreement.

"And here we are again," the newcomer continued, "a group of people have managed to pull together the funding and the enthusiasm to save the old CPR station, and now they've put out a book, and all over town people are grumbling."

"Remember when they did the beach?" offered the third regular, "lots of people in town were against that when Mr Chipperfield put the idea forward, but I bet you won't find anyone who admits to opposing it now."

"Or the Agri-steel move back in the 60's," chimed in the fourth regular at the table, "it wasn't the town fathers who did that. It was a group of local businessmen and people who could see beyond the valley and knew that we needed more then the trains to keep our town alive."

"Yeah," the first regular offered, "if you read Bob's book, there were times folks grumbled and opposed even the CPR. But I bet you won't find anyone in town who doesn't appreciate the money that the railroaders both past and present put into the economy here."

"Everybody grumbles about the new idea," ventured the fourth regular, "but at the end of the day, they embrace the outcome and are quite happy to pay their admission and enjoy it with the rest of us. Heck guys, think about this place. If you had said two years ago the old Chipperfield store was going to be a coffee shop, we would have grumbled and called you crazy. Yet here we are." for dramatic effect, he picked up his coffee mug and hoisted it in a faux toast to the memory of what once was.
"True enough," replied the newcomer, as Anna placed his coffee and carrot cake on the table in front of him, "every new thing in town has its critics, but when we get used to it ..."

"When we get used to it," the first regular interupted, "you won't find a belly acher anywhere in town. They'll have found something new to grumble about."

"It's a good town," offered Anna tentatively, "I like it here. With the beach and everything it's a good place to live."

"Yeah, but you're still young," laughed the newcomer, "you haven't heard the fights over things like the beach and the hall, and now the station."

"Speaking of the hall," offered a fifth regular now joining the group, "didn't you just graduate at the ceremony at the hall Anna?"

"Yes," she smiled shyly as she answered.

"That Hall," the fifth newcomer shook his head as he sat down, "I was dead set against that Hall when they built it. I even took one of the petitions door to door."

The others at the table snorted with laughter and turned their attention to their mugs as they lowered their heads and smiled.

"But let me tell you," the fifth regular continued, "I am one of the first to say that that Hall, even with its problems, is a real asset to the community. I guess we just weren't ready for the change. We wanted things to stay the way they were."

"Hmm," laughed Anna, a slight smile crossing her face, "you know what it means when something doesn't change or grow?"

"What?" answered the newcomer, the others looking up at Anna.

"Well, High School biology taught me that if something isn't changing or growing, it must be dead ..." she turned and smiled to herself as she returned to the counter.

There was a moment of stunned silence as the five regulars looked at one another and looked at Anna's back. At the counter, she turned and smiled at the five as she went back to her duties.

"She's right you know," stated the first regular in a matter of fact way.

"I hate it when that happens," said the last regular to join the group, "It's like the time when Chipperfield and his crew decided we needed the beach. 'Beach? What in sam-hill do we need a beach for?' I asked him one day just over there ..." his hand motioned to where the till once stood in The Chipperfield store

The other four smiled, shook their heads and picked up their coffees as he continued to recount his opposition to the beach ... Outside the sun was shining and out at the beach, people were having a grand time ... in their minds they could hear Anna saying: "If something isn't changing or growing, then it must be dead ..."

Each of them was thankful that their small town wasn't dead yet ...

In the distance a train whistle blew ... and across the street the station stood in the brilliant sunshine a reminder of the past AND the future ...