Durward and Charles – The Dixie Pig

(continued from previous Durward and Charles episodes)

Charles came from Florida to Virginia to visit his brother. It was the end of the fifties, the beginning of the sixties. The Beatles were still a few years away. Young folk at that time survived on AM radio music and 45 RPM records like Brian Hyland’s Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-dot Bikini, and Sheh Wooley’s One-eyed, One-horned, Flyin' Purple People Eater. And who can forget Englishman Lonnie Donegan’s hit, Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On the Bedpost Overnight?). That’s right, nobody can forget them, regardless of how hard we try. And we’ve tried very hard.

When suppertime came, Durward drove the two of them to a little eatery at the edge of town called Dixie Pig. It was a barbeque place, as you might guess from the name. It had its regulars, but it wasn’t exactly a magnet for clientele. Charles was in a party mood, and he decided to liven up the place by handing out twenty-dollar bills. While you may turn up your nose today, in 1960 a twenty was worth $175 in year 2020 money. Charles started handing out twenties to the waitresses, and before the night was over the customers were in on the action. Charles was a popular man that night. No pooches were screwed, no cars were wrecked, no one was beaten up or hospitalized. It was a good time for all and Charles was the epicenter.

News traveled fast. The next night, Dixie Pig had the most business ever. The parking lot was slammed. Everybody wanted a cut of the good times. Everybody wanted to be in the Dixie Pig in case the crazy man who handed out twenties returned. But Charles made only one appearance. This wasn’t Charles’ first time at throwing a party for everyone in the joint, and he knew better than to go back the next night. There’s popular, when people are having fun but they’re not really sure what’s happening. Then there’s crazy time, when people have had time to think about it and decide, “I want some more of that!”

It was a night to remember, and those who were there never forgot it.