The Emperor's New Clothes Read Free

City.”
    â€œLiked that too,” Joe said under his breath.
    Sam slanted him a quelling glance. “We still approve of the idea of naming it after Big Jack.”
    â€œAs long as it ain’t too Bible-like.” Anna Rose compressed her fleshy lips together in a firm line.
    Randolph drew a deep breath. “So we decided to call it…” He paused like an actor waiting for a drumroll. “Empire City.”
    â€œEmpire City?” Tyler choked on the words. “Isn’t that a little high-flown? I mean you can call it Dead End or Empire City or Paradise on Earth if you want, but it’s still the same old town.”
    â€œIt won’t be for long,” Randolph said confidently.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Apprehension nipped at the back of Tyler’s mind.
    â€œWe’ve appointed a Community Betterment Committee,” Maize said eagerly.
    â€œWe are the Community Betterment Committee,” Sam corrected.
    â€œThat’s what I said,” Maize snapped. Sam gazed upward as if questioning a higher power about the wisdom of including women in this particular venture, or even possibly questioning their very existence.
    â€œAnd the Committee has decided…” Again Randolph paused as if to heighten the drama of the moment.
    His wife rushed ahead. “The Committee has decided a respectable town—”
    â€œA sophisticated town,” Maize interjected.
    â€œA proper town,” Joe groaned.
    â€œA civilized town,” Sam said with a nod.
    Randolph pushed back into the conversation. “—would have a mayor.”
    â€œA mayor?” Tye pulled his brows together in a puzzled frown.
    â€œThat’s right.” Randolph beamed. “A mayor.”
    â€œSo?” Tye narrowed his eyes in confusion. “Elect one.”
    For the first time since the meeting began, Joe smiled smugly. “Already did.”
    â€œWhat do you mean you already did?” Tye said.
    â€œTyler, we’ve never felt the need for a mayor before.” Maize sighed as if the lack of such an official made them all somewhat illegitimate. “So we’ve never had to hold an actual election. And at this particular point it seems much more important to have a genuine mayor already in office than to go through all the fuss and bother of a complicated election.”
    Tyler thrust his hands out in front of him. “Wait. Hold it. Stop.” He shook his head. “I thought you said you already elected a mayor.”
    The group exchanged condescending glances.
    â€œWe did,” Randolph said. Then he shrugged. “More or less. At least we talked to a lot of folks around town. Everyone agreed the committee should choose the first mayor.”
    â€œIt’s really pretty simple, Tye,” Sam said patiently. “Before we can become a proper city—”
    â€œCivilized,” Maize chanted.
    â€œRespectable,” Henrietta chimed.
    â€œâ€”we need to get all these little details ironed out,” Sam said. “Like a mayor and whatever else comes along.”
    â€œI see,” Tyler said slowly. He feared he was indeed getting an inkling of what was going on. And he didn’tlike it one bit. “What does all this have to do with me?”
    Again the gathering traded looks.
    Randolph drew a deep breath. “Tyler, my boy, we think—”
    â€œOr rather, it’s our considered opinion—” Henrietta said.
    â€œAfter a great deal of thought—” Maize added.
    â€œOh, just spit it out.” Joe glared. “We want you to be the damned mayor.”
    â€œDamned mayor is probably the most appropriate term I’ve heard here,” Tyler said under his breath. He studied the faces eyeing him expectantly. “I am honored. Thanks…but no, thanks.”
    Joe groaned.
    The ladies gasped.
    Randolph sighed heavily.
    Sam narrowed his eyes. “Why not?”
    â€œWhy not?” A hundred reasons,