Why does Dud even bother explaining to Herb

‘Twas the morning after Christmas, and all through the Mule Barn truck stop’s philosophy counter …

“Happy Boxing Day!” said Herb, settling in and flipping his cup to the upright and fillable position.

“Boxing Day?” said Steve.

“It certainly is,” Herb said. He’s like that … a lot.

We looked at each other. Doc put down the crossword puzzle he was working on. “You think there’ll ever be another Mohammed Ali?” said Dud.

“The best,” Doc said.

“How about Sugar Ray Robinson?” Steve said. “A toast to the great ones.”

Cups were raised.

“Guys?” said Herb. “Boxing Day isn’t about … boxing.”

“I knew this was coming,” Dud said.

“Boxing Day goes back to medieval times …”

“Like Doc?”

“Seriously,” Herb said. “It was the day after Christmas, and the masters of the castles and manor houses would give the servants the day off to go see their families …”

“Because on Christmas they had to stay in the castle and feed the duke?” Steve asked.

“Precisely. So the lord and master would give each servant a box with goodies in it for the servant’s kiddies and send them on their way for a day.”

“Is this what started the Boxer Rebellion?” Dud asked. Dud collected strange knowledge.

“No, no!” Herb said, “That was in China …”

“Don’t they make boxer shorts in China?”

We watched Herb. “I don’t even know why I bother …”

Neither do we.

“You guys ever see Mike Tyson’s uppercut?”

“I know he’s hard on ears.”

“I heard about the War of Jenkins’ Ear,” Dud said. “Maybe that was hooked up with the Boxer Rebellion?”

We finally got Herb to groan.

Slim Randles can be reached at (505) 306-6009, at 7308 Painted Pony Trail NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120, or at ol_slim@yahoo.com or www.slimrandles.com. Brought to you by “Home Country,” the best of the first six years.