Rabbittrun Texas, Imogene, shoplifter

Back in 1986 or so….when I was a mere child… I did these dolls… they all came from this weird little town…. Rabbittrun, Texas.  Each one was a real character.  Since I sometimes used personalities of  people I knew… and didn’t wanna be sued…  The dolls ended up being animal people.  That way,  no one could say… you made that one look just like me… and I’ll see you in court!  Making sense?  Well, it will when you read a few of the stories.

Yesterday,  while spending the day with a friend,  I was telling her about a few of the Good Folks of Rabbittrun, Texas.  She thought it’d be a good idea to put some on my blog.  So if you hate ‘em… let me know…. I’ll send you Patsy’s info and you can complain directly to her.  Second hand is just never as good as when you can speak directly to the person that had this idea…. big smile…. 

Yes, I did a book kinda thing.  Made it myself.  Published it myself.  That means I took it to quick copy,  brought all those pages home and built the darn thing.  And it’s copyrighted… so don’t be making your Christmas cards out of what I wrote.  Make up your own lies.  You can do it…

Imogene 

(get a mental image of a big ol’ giraffe with an ugly dress on)

You see that rather large woman goin’ in the 5 & dime?  No, the one with the large purse.  Yes, that’s the one.  Well,  that’s Imogene,  the town’s one and only shoplifter. Yes,  it is sad. It’s not that she takes that much, or anything worth much.  She just always takes a little somethin’ everywhere she stops. Why, she took the knob right off the Church’s front door.  Everybody was real upset over that one.  You ‘ll notice that her dress has real big pockets.

For awhile there, all the street signs were missin’. They made Imogene give them back.  Didn’t hurt her feelings, she’ll get them back. I know what you’re thinkin’.  Yes we tried to get her help. Even took her to one of those fancy doctors.  I think he was a physcitarist… anyway,  he charged way too much. You can always tell how fancy they are by how much they charge.  Why, the town had a bake sale, car wash, and just out and out begged for the money to pay him.  You should have seen that bill,  it went on forever.  Anyway, we got her there (and all paid up,  I might add.)  He hadn’t seen her three times before he refused to see her anymore.  She bout stole him blind.  Why, she even made off with the potted plant, and the pen set right off his desk.  She was goin’ for the desk  when he said he’d had enough.  Said it was the worst case he’d ever seen. He still doesn’t know she took the light switch, we didn’t have the heart to tell him. 

And Imogene kinda liked him.  That’s why she left him his shoes.  That’s always her favorite thing to take.  She likes to think of it as collectin’.  She does have a rather large collection of shoes… takes up one whole room.  She’s not selfish, though, she’ll let you borrow a pair, if you promise to bring them back….

PJ Hornberger did it….

PJ Hornberger Folk Art