The Buckway Journal

Things That Are Not Happening Are the Things We Don’t Write About

This is the text of the framed sign hanging on the wall of the Editor-in-Chief of the Buckway Journal.

***
Every morning I wake up and write the first thing that comes to mind, then write a story around it. This type of writing is sometimes called ’flash fiction’. This is Flash Fiction February. Get a book and have a complimentary paid subscription. https://ycr.info
***

Milton Harold loves his little town of Buckway. Except for the time he spent away at the State University, he’s been here his entire life. He’s never even been on an away vacation. When he has time off from work, he grabs his tent and his hunting and fishing gear and heads out to the woods. When people ask him where he’s going on vacation, “I’m already here” is his reply,

People will ask him, as they see him around town, about a story or some news they have heard about. “I ain’t talkin’!” He answers, every time. “How are we going to sell papers if we tell ‘em stuff?” He reminds his small staff, regularly. “Don’t tell ‘em nothin’!” He asserts.

When he hears about something that he feels needs reporting, he sets the office wheels into motion. Then he checks the sources and the people involved. In that order. Sometimes he has to talk and negotiate about some coverage or other. That happens. People want assurances.

Then, there are those situations where coverage could hurt police work. In those instances it’s important to use nuance, and maybe nudge something one way or another, because some rascal needs to be smoked out; coaxed; teased out into the open. You never know. These decisions require a certain amount of discernment. As do the decisions regarding legal cases. Milton Harold is a wise man. It takes a wise man to have such a position.

One of Milton’s favorite things about his job is that he gets to work with his soulmate, Mary. They’ve been together since grade school, and it works very well for them. “We just ignore each other ‘til we need something.” He says. Mary smiles and nods every time he says that, too.

Something else Milton loves is the fact that he has helped several people, as they are maturing into adulthood, get their starts as journalists or other fields of writing. “They send me their stuff in the mail for years, some of it is worth reading, too.” Milton confesses. They become teachers, reporters, TV writers, all because Milton opened a door for them. “I’ve never let a one of them work for free.” He explains. “No way. You work, you get paid. Everybody gets something if they put some time in. What kind of country wants its people to be broke? That is about the dumbest thing… what in the world?”

The End
436 Words