Hartland is a quiet town.

Mal Content occasionally lets his bagpipes squeal just enough to put fear into the town’s teenage population, but the typical hush is what makes this tale intriguing.

This story was related to me by David Harleyson. Names and facts have been changed to enhance the story.

David Harleyson was out for a ride on his Harley-Davidson. He’d never recovered from seeing the movie, “Easy Rider.” David has reached the age where he still respects his elders; they’re just harder to find. David knows his way around town. The irony of life is that by the time you’re old enough to know your way around, you’re not going anywhere. He likes  to ride every street in town. Not much of a task. First Street is on the edge of town.

David passed under the big maple that had just enough elm in its family tree to have contracted Dutch Elm Disease. He never imagined that cruising on a motorcycle through a residential neighborhood could be dangerous.

Read the rest of the Al's column in our February issue...