When you open it, you're greeted by two sharply dressed strangers—one tipping a dark cowboy hat with a grin, the other standing tall with immaculate blonde pin curls that somehow defy the breeze. “Hi there,” one of them says. “We’re with the Bleeding Hearts Town Census. Got a moment?”
** It’s meme day, baby!
This is an optional ask meme event, styled like a good old-fashioned census, that will last through the rest of Thursday and all of Friday (4/18).
Under the read more, you’ll find thirty different...."census" questions, all numbered.
Like this post if you'd like to participate—doing so makes your character(s) fair game for others to send you numbered questions based on the list. Just make sure your ask box is open, and let the wildly personal small-town surveys begin!
Do you have raccoons living under your porch? And if so, how many are too many for you to handle?
When was the last time you gathered wildflowers? Tell us about the flower variety when you gathered them.
What are your opinions on the Goddess? If she whispered, would you listen?
Who in town would you absolutely NOT trust with your bulletin board request?
What is your unofficial job in a crisis? (i.e. do you help put out fires? Or hand out candles during thunderstorms?)
In your HONEST opinion… Does the train actually go anywhere?
Who would you trust to fight a bear for you? Who would you send in as bait?
Have you ever strolled the cemetery late at night? What horrors have you seen? What horrors have seen you?
Do you think you could win in a fight against Dick Scammahorn? Follow-up, how bad would it hurt if you lost?
Which location in town do you think has the weirdest vibe?
Do you consider jam as a form of currency? If not, what substance would you accept, fancy britches?
Ever get the feeling the Springs water is… watching you? Do you ever wave back?
Do you have a library card? Do you need help applying for one?
If someone handed you an ancient ring, would you wear it or pawn it off to a city slicker?
What was the last record you bought at Honky Tonk? If it wasn’t Rumors by Fleetwood Mac, why not?
Have you ever heard whispering in the library basement? Do you still owe it something?
What’s your go-to order at Granny’s? Or are you too good for her food, fancy pants?
If a raccoon in a tiny hat offered you a quest behind Happy Apple, would you accept?
What’s one piece of gossip you’re sittin’ on? Real or not! Really, anything. Please.
Have you ever fake-laughed at one of Granny’s jokes? Do you regret it?
Do you think Miss Fortune, the oracle of Goddess Tellings, can really predict the future? Do you think she can predict the gas mileage on her truck parked behind the studio?
Do you know that plant that keeps watching you? Have you apologized to it?
Be honest– did you start the storm by saying “it looks nice out!” out loud?
What kind of events would you like to see around Bleeding Hearts Springs? You gonna organize them yourself, fancy hat?
Do you think the raccoons are unionized? Should we be worried?
What secret ingredient do you think is in Granny’s famous stew?
Did you hear the rumor that Birchwood Inn is haunted? If not, there’s a rumor Birchwood Inn is haunted. If so, what do you think is haunting Birchwood Inn?
What’s a weirdly hyper-specific job idea you’re convinced the town needs?
Has the Goddess ever given you a sign that was a little too vague to be helpful? Please rank it against the average fortune cookie.
How many farm animals do you have on your property? Would you like one?
Well, thanks for your time, folks! It looks like our favorite sharply dressed duo got… at least some of the answers they were looking for. Whatever those were.
Here’s hoping next time the census comes knocking, they’ll ask more about household sizes and fewer questions about the raccoon uprising. But hey—who are we to question the process? We're not government officials.
The Meme Day Event is officially OVER!
Huge thank you to everyone who joined in and made it a blast!
What is your unofficial job in a crisis? (i.e. do you help put out fires? Or hand out candles in a thunderstorm?)
"I'm not sure what it is, but I always somehow end up taking some kind of charge during a crisis.." It didn't happen often, but she had found herself in a few situations between her old libraries in Nashville and on theatre projects. Molly definitely gave off "mom friend" energy, at least that's what she was told in college. She couldn't help but step up when someone needed her to. "I would probably help coordinate calling of the real help like an ambulance or firefighters while making sure no one was injured, or anyone who was injured was with someone who could watch or hold them. I would definitely be handing out candles and running to the door of my neighbors in a storm."
Have you ever heard whispering in the library basement...
Do you consider jam as a form of currency? If not, what substance would you accept, fancy britches?
"I must not be fancy britches because I think I'd accept a jar of fresh blackberry jam in exchange for a lost book fee at the library, but if you repeat that I'll deny saying it." All Molly could do was offer the sweetest smile following her response.
Which location in town do you think has the weirdest vibe?
"Weirdest vibe?" She repeats. Her face scrunches up and she wiggles her nose the slightest bit. "Ah," she weighs the thought of spilling before lowering her voice. "Pioneer Books isn't my favorite place..." she says, "I've only been in once, it's cute and everything - don't get me wrong." She's already kicking herself for saying anything. Who are these people and why do they want to know this? Now she's regretting bringing up books seeing as she's the librarian and all. "I'm just not a very religious person, I think it's lovely to have something to believe in, but an entire book shop dedicated to it? I'm not surprised, and it's not a bad thing. It's just not my thing." she finishes, her eyes dropping to the concrete floor of her front porch. "This isn't going to be used to stir gossip about me, is it?"
What was the last record you bought at Honky Tonk? If it wasn't Rumors by Fleetwood Mac, why not?
"How did you know?" Molly laughs before shaking her head, "No, no I bought that record when I was like 15 from a record store in Nashville, but it was the first record I purchased on my own. with chore money." She pauses, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "The first record I bought from Honky Tonk was Wilson Phillips, their debut record. Hold On is a bit of a therapeutic song for me."
If a raccoon in a tiny hat offered you a quest behind Happy Apple, would you accept?
"I guess it would depend on the type of quest," she replied thoughtfully. "It might make for a good plot of a children's book..."
What are your opinions on the Goddess? If she whispered, would you listen?
Molly wouldn't call herself religious by any means. She hadn't been to church since she was in school and living with her parents, and even then her family only went to church on Sundays and showed up at the occasional church picnic. Even now, she wasn't quite sure where she stood on religion and spirituality. But she was willing to welcome the new chapter of her life with an open heart. "I think it's really beautiful to have something to believe in and to be so deeply rooted in tradition and belief, especially in a place that is so breathtaking." she spoke calmly, eyes drifting to the rolling hills beyond the person at her doorstep. "I can't help but know that I might be willing to give her a chance.."
Have you ever heard whispering in the library basement? Do you still owe it something?
Whispering in the library basement? Molly paused at the question. Sure, maybe she had, but at the same time she thought perhaps it was just her mind playing tricks on her. Or she was hearing something entirely different, like the foundation settling and confusing it for whispering. "I mean," she gave a shrug, "I wouldn't be surprised if I had heard something in the basement.." But the mention of owing it something made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. She couldn't figure out why for the life of her. Truthfully, she had never thought of it that way. Surely she hadn't lived in town long enough to truly understand what that question meant. "But I'm not sure I know what you mean about owing something." she replied with a soft but somewhat nervous chuckle.
What's your go-to order at Granny's? Or are you too good for her food, fancy pants?
"Well, the mango sticky rice is probably one of the most delicious rice recipes I've ever tasted and even some of the highest rated restaurants back in Nashville have nothing on Granny's recipe," she could feel her mouth watering at just the thought. "And there's no way that I'm saying no to a slice of pink cake."
9. "Do you think you could win in a fight against Dick Scammahorn? Follow-up, how bad would it hurt if you lost?"
This seems rather pointed, but Wes offers his thoughts anyway, of which he has many. "It would depend on what kind of fight. If you mean a battle of wits, my intelligence far surpasses his. But when it comes to physical ability... I would also surpass him." He conveniently ignores the second question.
14. "If someone handed you an ancient ring, would you wear it or pawn it off to a city slicker?"
Now this is more the line of questioning he'd been expecting, holding up a hand and shaking his head. "A city slicker wouldn't know what to do with the sort of rings I have."
