The Wise Man

This is Mr Browne. He's tubby and moustached and smokes a pipe -well I say smoke but he forgets his matches so it mostly hangs in the corner of his mouth unlit. Mr Browne thinks cats are the most amusing creatures in Gods creation. He once had to be rushed to hospital after nearly suffocating from laughing at a cat playing with string. But I'm taking you down the garden path, let me return to what I was saying. Mr Browne is a simple, honest and thoughtful man, I often go to him for advice and for his opinion on this and that. "Tell me Mr Browne" I often say "What do you think of steam engines?" He looks upwards to the side and takes a deep breath "Ah well, they're magnificent." We both nod for a while "Magnificent" he'll repeat after a few moments and we'll nod some more.
Mr Brown works with a shovel, if you have a job for a shovel then he's your man, yes sir. He works around the city and in the parks. "The problem with the country" he tells me "is the animal farms, and what do animal farms have?" I shrug "Mud?" He shakes his head "Poop, lots and lots of poop, mountains of it. I don't think so many animals should be locked up such small areas." I think he has an opinion for everything, I think I'll ask Maggie about that, she has a newspaper and flower stand in the plaza. Mr Brown and Maggie are good friends, I think they fancy each other but are too shy to show it. "I say Maggie, do you think Mr Browne has an opinion for everything?" She pursed her lips and frowned (she does that when she thinks, I find it quite amusing) "I dare say so," she says "I dare say so..." She blushes and brushes her hair behind her ear "Sorry what?" She says, "I didn't say anything" I reply.
One drizzly Autumn afternoon I was wandering down by the river, the ground was thick with fallen leaves and sure enough I found Mr Browne shovelling them away. I walked up to him "Afternoon" I said, "Good afternoon mate" he stood up and stretched his back. I nod toward the river "Looks like the river's nearly full?" Mr Browne pointed to the bridge "see the black marks around the pillars?" I shook my head "Can't say I do" Mr Browne bent over and started shovelling "That's 'cos they be under the water, all this here rain has swelled the river." "Will it flood?" I asked, "Nay, she'll be back to normal by next week." Mr Browne took the pipe from his mouth and tapped it on the shovel handle. "Do you believe these stories in the newspaper?" I asked, Mr Browne hung the pipe on the corner of his mouth "I take everything with a pinch of salt..." I nod "A pinch of salt." Mr Browne repeats. As I walk away I glance over my shoulder and smile. Yes sir, Mr Browne is a wise man, a wise man indeed.