THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507280180
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
Tuesday, July 18
11 a.m. - Virginian-Pilot office, 157 North Main St.
The woman comes into the newspaper office, five children traipsing behind her.
She wants to put a notice in the paper. Meanwhile, the well-behaved kiddies look around.
The woman is young, prompting someone to say, ``I know they don't all belong to you.''
A little boy, about 9, pipes up. ``You'd have to be crazy to have five children.''
- Frank Roberts
Saturday, July 22
6:30 p.m. - At a house in Chuckatuck
As the two sisters help their father clean out the attic, one dusty memory after another tumbles down the ladder. The three lug dozens of boxes into the den, intending to make a huge donation to Goodwill.
Beneath the layers of dust are dozens of dog-eared Bobbsey Twin and Nancy Drew books; old Girl Scout uniforms; photographs, some of which predate the sisters; and dozens of 25-year-old toddlers' toys and stuffed animals.
Just for a moment, the trio slows down long enough to appreciate one another. And they really ``clean'' the attic because almost everything is pulled out, dusted off, looked at fondly and repacked for storage in the attic.
- Allison T. Williams
Tuesday, July 25
1:40 p.m. - Shorty's Antiques & Produce, Pinner St., Suffolk
The woman picks out some plump, red tomatoes as ``Shorty'' Brinkley, a cigar stub between his teeth, places butter beans on the scales.
``This `air conditioning' is killing me,'' says the produce stand owner who personifies his nickname.
Being outside all day must really be draining in this heat, says the woman who wants 4 pounds of beans.
``It's hot everywhere, even at home,'' Shorty says, glancing at the numbers - about an ounce shy of 4 pounds.
``You're pretty good,'' the woman says. ``You must have been in this business a long time.''
``Yep, 47 years,'' Shorty says, putting the beans in a brown bag.
``And loving every minute of it, right?'' the woman asks.
``You might as well,'' Shorty says, as he figures up how much she owes. ``You might as well.''
- Susie Stoughton
Wednesday, July 26
12:30 p.m. - China Moon Restaurant, Suffolk Plaza Shopping Center.
The waitress has a big grin to match the big roll of bills. At the same time, she looks a little bit - well - out of it.
``Look at this,'' she says, as she counts the bills - ``$80.''
A giant-sized tip from an extremely well-satisfied customer?
No - the result of a challenge.
The four cooks each pitch in $20 if she will eat a very large, very hot pepper.
She just had a baby - the money will come in handy. With that thought in mind, she gulps down the red hot pepper. The cooks pay off. Baby gets some diapers, momma gets heartburn.
- Frank Roberts
Thursday, July 27
4:15 p.m. - Outside Washington Square Mall, Saratoga St., Suffolk
Former Mayor Andy Damiani watches with mild disgust at the smokers who frequent the sidewalks for smoke breaks.
Damiani, who once smoked, says he gave up the habit several years ago. No, he didn't use those patches or that nicotine gum. Damiani stopped cold turkey.
His reasons?
``When you become my age, you realize you have to stop for health reasons. I don't see any other way but to stop cold turkey.''
And he hasn't smoked since.
- Terri Williams
Thursday, July 27
4:45 p.m. - City Hall, Suffolk
Once is more than enough when it comes to chicken parts sloshed onto Main Street on a hot, summer day, says Public Works director Tom Hines.
And twice in the past month was too much, especially for the city workers who had to clean up the slimy, smelly mess.
But this morning, the third time turned into a charm, Hines says.
A woman driving behind him spotted the driver, who was apparently headed to a rendering plant on the Eastern Shore, and reported the company name and truck number.
``When he gets the bill for the cleanup, that ought to stop him,'' Hines says.
- Susie Stoughton ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Bruno, a canine member of the Henry Joyner family, performs his
usual routine at Tri-County Airport. Before any member of the family
boards one of their planes, Bruno checks the engine intakes for
birds.
by CNB