The Whistling Gypsy

Name: Carrick McNara
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Nationality: Irish
Occupation: Traveling Merchant/Busker
Eye Color: Green
Hair Color: Copper
Skin Color: Light Tan with Freckles
Personality: Bright and cheerful, makes friends with everyone he meets.
Other: Missing his left canine tooth. Constantly singing old Irish folk songs.

Name: Daniel Ackerman
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Nationality: German
Occupation: Steel worker
Eye Color: sky blue
Hair Color: Dirty Blonde
Skin Color: Tanned (sunburn in some places)
Personality: Friendly, Happy, easy going, softhearted kind of guy. Manly too.
Other: Mean ass drunk.

A merchant driving a small truck with wooden slats on the sides drove in one day to the small town of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and got himself a temporary lease on a small lot in what used to be a gas station. He drove in on a Saturday, and his shop was set up by Monday.

He stood out in the sun, sweat glistening on his nose, putting out the last of his merchandise. His bright copper hair was swept back from his freckled face, and he was whistling a merry tune as he worked, attracting the attention of many passersby; it wasn't long before he had a small crowd gathered round to look at his wares. Whilst his customers browsed, he went to his truck and got out his guitar, setting the case open on the ground by his chair, so that he could play for them. He strummed a few times, softly, making sure that it was in tune, then struck up a cheerful melody and started to sing.

"A whistlin' gypsy came o'er the hill,
Down thro' tha valley so shady.
He whistled an' he sang,
till tha green woods rang,
an' he won tha heart of a lady."

Daniel was odd as far as steel workers went. He was far more friendly and fun-loving, so it was no surprise for his co-workers to see him browsing a new lot on his day off. He hummed along with the owner's guitar as he browsed his wares.

In his philosophy, you never knew when you would find something you might need.

He picked up a worn book and had to smile. It was a copy of one of his favorites, from when he was small.

"Ah dee doo ah dee doo da day,
Ah dee doo ah dee day dee,
He whistled and he sang,
Till the green woods rang,
And he won the heart of a lady.

She left her father's castle gate,
She left her own true lover
She left her pearls and her fine French lace,
To follow the gypsy rover.

Ah dee doo ah dee doo da day,
Ah dee doo ah dee day dee
He whistled and he sang,
Till the green woods rang,
And he won the heart of a lady.

Her father saddled up his fastest steed,
He roamed the valleys all over.
He sought his daughter at great speed,
And the whistlin' gypsy rover.

Ah dee doo ah dee doo da day,
Ah dee doo ah dee day dee,
He whistled and he sang,
Till the green woods rang,
And he won the heart of a lady.

He came at last to a mansion fine,
Down by the river Clady.
And there was music and there was wine,
For the gypsy and his lady.

Ah dee doo ah dee doo da day,
Ah dee doo ah dee day dee.
He whistled and he sang,
Till the green woods rang,
And he won the heart of a lady.

'He is no gypsy, my father,' she said,
'But lord of these lands all over.
And I will stay till my dying day,
With my whistlin' gypsy rover'

Ah dee doo ah dee doo da day,
Ah dee doo ah dee day dee,
He whistled and he sang,
Till the green woods rang,
And he won the heart of a lady."

He smiled at the applause as he finished his song, then got back to his feet and wandered through the aisles of merchandise to see what his customers were browsing. He came upon a young man with a book he was particularly fond of and clapped him on the shoulder amicably. "That's one o' my favorites, boyo! You read it afore?"

"My mum used to read it to me when I was a little lad" Daniel smiled at him. "How much you want for it?"

"Fer a cute face like yers?" he said, laughing merrily. "A dollar. And do keep lookin'; ye might find somethin' else ye like in my great 'eap o' stuff. I 'ave some other good books in that box yonder, if ye'd like ta take a look, m' dear." He placed a hand in the small of Daniel's back and steered him toward the box as he continued to speak. "Me name's Carrick by tha by. Might I ask what yer name is, 'andsome fella?"

"Daniel" Daniel smiled. "And Thank you, I will certainly take a look. I'm always looking for a good book to read" He crouched by the box to skim through the titles.

Carrick leaned his head back and to the side, unabashedly staring at Daniel's ass. He grinned in appreciation and began to hum a familiar song as he knelt beside the man to see what he was looking at.

Daniel now had a book of fairy-tails in his hand, along with a few other fiction works. "These look pretty good" He smiled "How much?"

Carrick laughed merrily, and looked at them closely. "Ye look pretty good yeself, Daniel. Three fer tha fairy book, two fer tha rest; sound good ta ye?"

"Sounds good" Daniel smiled. "Thank you very much." He stacked the books and fished around in his pocket for his wallet. "You gonna be in town long?" He asked "We don't get many new people here"

"Till tha lease on this 'ere lot runs out in a couple o' months," he said, smiling. "Why, ye interested in comin' back ta see me sometime, 'andsome?"

"Well you do have some decent wares. Couldn't hurt to come back and check 'em every so often" Daniel chuckled. "Why, you want me to come back?"