Category: Ethnic Stories AN HONORARY POSITION At the bottom of every New Year greeting card, received from Brown, the small town retailer, there was an invitation to come and visit him “if you want to breathe some unspoiled country air”. One day, his big city family decided to take him up on his invitation. Reaching his town, they stopped their car at the first passersby, a poorly dressed fellow and asked directions. “Brown, that cheapskate, who never donated a penny for charity,” - answered the man angrily, - “he lives at the upper end of the town, where all the bloodsuckers of his kind live.” They drove on in the general direction indicated and stopped again at a small shop. “If you are looking for that crook, that scoundrel Brown, may he drop dead” - answered the visibly agitated shopkeeper - “he lives in a red tiled big house, may it burn down, on the 5th street to the left.” Two other people expressed similar derogatory views about the visitor’s kinsman. Finally they reached his home and received a warm welcome. Brown showed them around his spacious house and told them that he was recently elected the Chairman of the local Merchants’ Association. “Does the job pay well?” - asked the visitors. “It does not pay at all, but you gain stature and a lot of respect in the community.”

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