“Wha—huh? Oh, we’re votin’ now? Investing? Wha? What’s this—about the spa? The water? Or… or somethin’ else? No one tells me nothin’. They whisper real quiet when I walk in, like I can’t hear. But I can. I hear it all. I just, uh... forget most of it.

So lemme get this straight... The water’s magic, but also poison? The doc says it’s toxic, but the mayor says it’s tonic? That sound right? ‘Cause I been drinkin’ tap water for forty-seven years and the only thing I got is a strong liver and a divorce.

I don’t like bein’ told what to do. Not by suits, not by scientists. Not even by Margaret, God rest her soul. But also—I ain’t lookin’ to fight. You push too hard and I’ll fold like a lawn chair in a thunderstorm.

Look, all I know is I used to sit on the bench outside the springs and it was quiet. Then people started talkin’. Now we got charts and handouts and folks yellin’ in the bakery. I don’t get it. But I do know this—if the doc’s lyin’, he’s a damn good actor. And if he’s tellin’ the truth, well... guess we gotta stop drinkin’ the miracle water, huh?

Can I still investe if I had a few? What? No? Ah hell, I’ll just cheer real loud when it’s over.”