Coal Dust, Cherry Pipe Tobacco — and a Heel-Only Shoe
Coal Dust, Cherry Pipe Tobacco — and a Heel‑Only Shoe
Sometimes the situation comes pre‑loaded with enough words. Sometimes “tsk, tsk, tsk” is the most efficient commentary on Beacon Hill ever produced.
Way back in the day — when “communications” meant the Palmer Method, endless ovals, push‑pull strokes, and a moral expectation that staying inside the lines was a character test — I spent a lot of time with my grandfather.
He came over from County Clare, Ireland. Because he didn’t quite meet the Beacon Hill Brahmins’ preferred “entry requirements,” he was assigned one of the humbler jobs: delivering coal in shoulder bags to the rich and famous of Boston.
He never complained. Never called in sick. Never took a day off. His reward came at day’s end: wash off the coal dust, pack his pipe with Edgewood cherry tobacco, play a little on his Contadina, and squeeze out the Irish tunes of his youth.
Three Syllables for Nonsense
The Tell I Never Quite Understood
Some evenings he’d listen to the radio. That’s when I’d notice his peculiar little tell. Whenever he heard something odd, foolish, or just plain incomprehensible, he’d press his tongue to the roof of his mouth and go:
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Not loud. Not dramatic. Not a lecture. Just three syllables. Punctuation for nonsense.
I never fully understood it — until today.
The $1,100 Half-Shoe
Footwear Designed By Someone Who Lost a Bet
After finishing my chores — feeling responsible and only mildly ancient — I sat down to catch the news and weather. Then came a segment about a new fashion accessory. A “must‑have” for the younger generation. Priced at $1,100.
The item?
A heel shoe.
Exactly what you’re imagining: a partial shoe that covers only the heel and leaves the entire sole unprotected. The world’s most expensive compromise. A sandal that gave up halfway through its shift. Footwear designed by someone who clearly lost a bet.
My wife walked in, took one look at me, and asked, “Why are you tsk‑tsk‑tsking?”
In that moment, I finally understood my grandfather.
Pre‑Loaded With Enough Words
Some Situations Don’t Need a Speech
Sometimes you don’t need a speech. Sometimes the situation already comes pre‑loaded with enough words. “Tsk, tsk, tsk” will do just fine.
And honestly? It still feels like the most efficient commentary on our representative Beacon Hill group ever produced.