Life On 66

Here is the growing family of Life On 66.

M.J. is the sole owner of the gas and service station, The Gas Can.  Having grown up in Carbon Cliff and now living in Cliff Heights (small addition to the town) M.J. knows just about everyone in the area.  Honest, fun loving and hard working, he is never too busy to help out  or be part of a practical joke.  He knows the value of a dime, but more importantly, the value of a friend.

Ginger is the owner of the Carbon Cliff Cafe.  The best place on Route 66 for coffee and pie.  She has been in love with M.J. since grade school and knows that one of these days he will pop the question.  But that knowledge doesn’t stop her from an occasional prod.  Ginger is very practical and has a very warm heart when it comes to her friends.

Stanley has been M.J.’s best friend since kindergarden.  There is nothing that Stan wouldn’t do for M.J., or to him for that matter.  Practical jokes and far out schemes are everyday occurrences for him.  You never want to tell Stan that he cannot do something, because he will go all out proving you wrong.  Even though he may seem on the childish and “not too bright” side, he is probably the wisest one in Carbon Cliff.

Pauline is the only other employee at the Carbon Cliff Cafe.  Very hard working and takes her pie baking skills very seriously.  Her Strawberry-rhubarb-gooseberry-orange pie is well known far and wide.  Mostly known to be the worst tasting pie in 5 counties.  But no one will tell her that to her face.  Even though she is small in stature she can rip license plates in two when angered.  A bit on the naive side, but a loyal and trusted friend to all.  And, she has a small crush on Stanley.  But don’t tell him that.

Pete, or Part time Pete as he is known in town, will and does work for anyone.  Mostly he works at the Gas Can, but he has been known to do odd jobs at the cafe, drive-in, horse stables, school and the list goes on forever.  He has so many part time jobs because everyone knows he is very hard working and is probably THE most trusted person in all of Carbon Cliff and everyone wants to hire him.  Pete is far from worldly but all think the world of him.

Mr.Fields owns the small grocery store in Carbon Cliff and the Semri Drive In Theater.  His cynical and grumpy outlook on life is only surpassed by his penny-pinchyness.  Even though he loves to put his nose in everyone’s business, he will not put his thumb on the scales as he weighs out your hamburger.

Ron and his faithful dog Link are the Merchant Policemen of the area.  Although not a sworn officer, Ron is paid by merchants and people to check their doors at night and then patrol their property from dusk to dawn.  The fee ranges from $8 to $20 per month depending on the size of the buildings.  Ron says he doesn’t need to carry a gun because, “the crook stealing a hubcap knows I am not going to shoot him, but he doesn’t know what the dog is going to do.”

Bo runs the vehicle repair and tow station in town.  There is not a car made that Bo is not certified to fix.  Easy going and with a dry sense of humor, if he is not in his station or towing a vehicle, you will find him on Rock River fishing for catfish.

Look up the word precocious and you will see a picture of Mary Ann.  A certified tom-boy you will always find her playing baseball, football and tennis.  Mary Ann is never shy about asking questions or speaking her mind.  This just-turned-teen is shy around M.J.  She thinks he is just “dreamy”.