Kalico 2: Hypnotized & Naked in Hope Springs

Kalico: The Hope Springs Café

Kalico: Wednesday afternoon, The Hope Springs Café, Main Street

Satisfied with myself about the damage I would be doing to someone's bank account (unfortunately my own Educational Fund joint account with Mom) because of all the extra uniform parts I had purchased at the (Faded Sign) Department Store, I hit the sidewalk of Main Street en route to the Hope Springs Café.

Never mind, I told myself, it's my own college fund I'm raiding for the cost of the school uniforms. If I am compelled to attend high school in this boondocks town, I'm going to do it in style. Tam-o'-shanter indeed!

Mom is the one who worries about the future costs of college. I'm still vaguely pissed at her anyway. I reckon it's my college fund! Who says I have to spend it on college? The cost is still for education, or school necessities. I was informed during my meeting with the faculty committee this morning that I'm above average for being At Serious Risk of never finishing high school. Enjoy it while you can, Kalico, is my new motto. Live exactly in each moment and enjoy.

Such was my mood after completing the biggest single-event clothing purchase binge of my life. Does shopping, spending lots of money, do that to your moods? Too bad it wasn't Mod stuff from the Mall Fashion Mart Discount Center and Video Arcade in Fort Worth's West Side. Maybe next time.

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PERSONAL HISTORY NOTE: That video arcade in western Fort Worth was the historic scene of my only previous dating experience. It was historic because I had the honor of watching my guy, whatever his name was, for three hours while he ran up a colossal score on one of the arcade machines. He was especially happy that I was there to see happen. He got to insert his initials into the machine's scoring system where his marker will stay until someone else posts a higher score. Did I mention it only took him three hours and seven minutes to accomplish this? Did I mention that he didn't find a place for me to sit? Did I mention that two weeks later a lightning storm knocked out a power substation, leaving that end of Fort Worth without electricity for three hours and all the arcade game histories reset to Zero?

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Hope Springs Café is a store-front operation with its entrance on the sidewalk about two and a half feet above Main Street. Unlike modern restaurants in the big cities where we used to live, Hope Springs Café appears hopeless in the parking department. You can park your car nose-in on Main Street, or parallel park on one of the side streets and walk in. Don't bother to look for a parking lot or valet service.

Be prepared to climb a few steps, or find the ramp at the end of the block to use this sidewalk. The street originated in the buckaroo days of horses and wagons, thus the sidewalk is exactly the correct height for a dainty step-down from a carriage. I think the last serious carriage traffic in Hope Springs was about 98 years ago.

Why didn't someone re-build the sidewalks to match modern automobile traffic? Because the reconstruction would leave the store entrances two feet too high. The steps and ramp work fairly well. Just consider it a sample of history.

Wide glass windows spread across the front of the café, admitting light and allowing a view of pedestrian passers-by. Some signs in or near the windows are worth noting.

1.

Open 6 AM - 4 PM Monday – Saturday Closed Sundays

2.

Citizens Committee For Good Government & Other Improvements to Hope Springs Meets Here 12 Noon Thursdays

3.