Otis spends many long, arduous hours minding other people’s business. He hangs out on the Andover Town Common, in front of Mills’ Market, Fox’s Barbershop, sometimes at Marston’s Garage and a host of other places most people don’t want him around. During all this time, very little ever happens. When it does, it usually musters a decent story.

Dr. Twaddle, now about 88 years old but still practicing, had an office set up just beyond the Ellis River Bridge. Been there for going on 33 years and finally one day the old Doc decided he just couldn’t make a living any longer with this office in Andover. He decided to move to Rumford where the action was.

On moving day, Doc Twaddle got some help moving things. His grand niece showed up in her swank little Mercedes to help. She filled the trunk and back seat with items and thought some of heading out for Rumford, when she decided she could quite easily place the full body skeleton the old Doc used for years in the seat next to her in the car.

Fearing the skeleton might tip over or fall forward in a sudden stop, the niece wedged one arm of the skeleton in beside the seat and door and the other arm up over the back of the seat, assuming that would be enough.

She headed out of town and when she got down to the four-way stop in the center of town, Otis was standing on the corner and quite consumed by the notion that there was a strange car in town. He peered hard at the car as it approached.

When the car pulled up beside him at the stop sign, the skeleton was on the same side and quite clearly visible. Otis stared.

The niece began to fluster a bit but instead of just driving on, she opted instead to roll down the window on the skeleton’s side and began to explain to Otis what she was doing.

“I know this might look funny but I’m taking him to the doctor’s office in Rumford,” she reported.

Otis stood up erect for a moment, grabbed his suspender straps, leaned forward again and said, “I don’t know how to tell you this lady, but I think your a little late.”