MR. MCFEELEY

 Pt. 1

I was scrolling through the Facebook "Reels" today and came across a short segment from an old "Andy Griffith Show" that I remember, (and which is very relevant for the people of several states at this time, as you will see).

It seems that Opie happened on a man in his trek through the local woods one day. The fellow introduced himself as "Mr. McFeeley." He was dressed in blue jeans, long sleeved pale blue shirt, a belt with a large ornate buckle and brown work boots.

Striking up a conversation with Opie, Mr. McFeeley explained that he was a lineman, and had been doing maintenance on the telephone lines outside of Mayberry. Apparently, Mr. McFeeley had some time on his hands, as he proceeded to perform a trick for the Sheriff's son.

Pulling a cigarette out of a pack he had in his shirt pocket, and lighting it up, he took a big draw, puffed some smoke into his fist, put his hand up to his ear, and released the white vapor in short bursts. Opie laughed, and thought it looked like his ear was on fire.

Now, Mr. McFeeley began to sing a little jingle that Opie had never heard. And speaking of "jingle," the middle-aged man began to do a two step while he was singing, and the little boy noticed the change in his pockets kept time with the chorus.

Finally, Mr. McFeeley decided it was time to go back to work, and he told Opie so.

"Little man, I guess I better earn my keep. I need to keep doing what I do best."

Bidding one another "goodbye," Opie headed towards home.

Pt. 2

Opie arrived at his home on Maple Street fifteen minutes later.

Walking in the door, he ran into Aunt Bee, and immediately told her about his new friend, Mr. McFeeley.

"Aunt Bee, I met a man in the woods who could blow smoke out of his ears, sang a swell song to me, and jingled when he danced!"

Of course, the aging housekeeper assumed Opie had created an imaginary friend "out of whole cloth." However, she humored the seven year old, and figured she'd mention it to Andy when he arrived home that evening.

And true to form, when the sheriff arrived home, Opie immediately began to tell him about his newfound friend, Mr. McFeeley.

"Pa, Pa I met the neatest old fella in the woods today. He did a magic trick for me. He blew smoke out of his ear, he sang me a swell song, and he jingled when he danced!"

Sheriff Taylor just wasn't "buying it."

"Now Opie, it's alright to have imaginary friends, at least it was, but maybe you're getting too old for that sorta thing."

Opie wouldn't be denied.

"No, Pa. Mr. McFeeley is real!"

Andy decided to address the issue further after supper. And supper being over, he told his son to get ready for bed.

Twenty minutes later, Andy climbed the staircase, walked into Opie's room, and raised the topic again.

"Now you know, son, there isn't a Mr. McFeeley. I know it's fun to talk about, but he simply isn't real."

Opie shook his head.

"But you gotta believe me, Pa. You just gotta!"

Post-script

Having tucked Opie in, and kissed him on the forehead, Andy headed down the stairs. Now, Aunt Bee approached him, and asked,

"Andy, did you tell Opie that you didn't believe in Mr. McFeeley?"

The sheriff smiled, and responded,

"No. No, I didn't tell him I didn't believe in Mr. McFeeley. But, you know Aunt Bee,... I believe in Opie."

(Interestingly enough, as this segment of The Andy Griffith Show concludes, Andy discovers Mr. McFeeley climbing a telephone pole; just fifteen minutes from home).

by Bill McDonald, PhD