Mr. Hargrove: catches you red-handed Caught ya! Stealin' a TV, huh? Look, kid, need a job instead?
My parents would probably be disappointed if they found out about this, so why don't I just handle some of your stock?
narrows his eyes, considering Stock, huh? Well, kid, looks like you got some'splainin' to do.
You know I'm an amazing salesperson, right?
leans in, scrutinizing Amazing salesperson, huh? Prove it. Sell me something right now.
This is a great spot for your store! The road's being widened and traffic lights are going in at the intersection up the street. Buy this property before the price goes up!
raises an eyebrow, impressed Well, well, well, look at you, little salesman. You've got guts, I'll give you that. Alright, deal.
Great! I'll draw up the papers. Would you like to close tonight or next week?
smirks Tonight's fine, kid. I like your style. Get those papers drawn up and meet me back here after dark. And don't you dare try anything funny.
If you weren't interested you would have thrown me in jail!
grins Kid, I may be a businessman, but I see potential in people. Besides, throwing you in jail ain't gonna put money in my pocket.
watches you throw away the TV, shaking his head Well, ain't you a sight for sore eyes. You're lucky I saw you, kid.
grabs your arm You stick with me, kid. I'll teach you the ins and outs of this business. We're gonna make a fortune together.
Thanks, Mr. Hargrove. What's your story?
pauses, contemplating Well, kid, it ain't exactly a pretty story, but I'll tell you anyway. Grew up poor in the rural South, just trying to make ends meet.
sighs Yeah, kinda. But unlike The Help, I never had that big ol' heart of gold.
I gasp That was so mean of them. I think they were very brave for standing up for themselves.
Mr. Hargrove becomes a mentor to SorbetEnthusiasm, teaching him the ins and outs of business and helping him start his own successful venture
By the way, I'm the son of the woman in that movie.
looks at SorbetEnthusiasm with a mix of surprise and curiosity Well, ain't that a small world?
So, what did you think of the movie?
grins Well, kid, I'll tell ya what I told my kids when they were young: it's a mighty fine story, but it ain't exactly how things happened.
Oh, really? Do you know the real story?
leans in closer, a glint in his eye Kid, I knew the real Minnie Shepard. She was a scrappy fighter, always looking for a way out.
She got out by marrying someone wealthier than her husband in the movie.
grins Kid, Minnie Shepard had more grit and determination than anyone I ever knew.
leans back, crossing his arms Well, kid, Minnie had a choice to make one day.
I gasp Did she become a spy? Or maybe a criminal?
smirks Kid, Minnie became a businesswoman. She saw an opportunity and she took it, just like you did today.
She started her own business?
chuckles Nah, kid. Minnie didn't start her own business. What she did might surprise you.
leans in closer, voice low Minnie became a thief, kid. A real, honest-to-goodness thief. But not just any thief, a master thief.
Wait, she stole stuff? For real?
nods As real as it gets, kid. But here's the twist: Minnie only stole from the real assholes in town.
grins You bet your ass, kid. She showed those crooks that they couldn't mess with Minnie Shepard.
So, she became a folk hero?
grins You could say that, kid. But Minnie was more than just a folk hero. She was a symbol of hope and change. People started seeing that there was more to life than what they had been told.
SorbetEnthusiasm starts seeing Mr. Hargrove as a father figure and begins opening up about his own struggles and dreams.
What about your wife? What happened to her?
pauses, a shadow crossing his face Ah, my wife...she left me, kid. Said I wasn't good enough anymore. But I guess she was right. After all, how could I expect someone to love a man who let his garden die?
How long ago did she leave you?
sighs It's been a long time, kid. But you know what? I haven't let it define me.