Even though the day had wonderful weather, and physically he felt great, Barney wore a frown that seemed to pull his ears downward. He had found a wad of litter, obviously tossed out the window of a car as it passed down main street, scattered on the sidewalk. Barney blew out a sigh and cleaned the garbage up with his hands. Out from what seemed like nowhere, a boy on a bike sped past Barney, almost knocking Barney down. Barney shouted at the kid, "Hey, you aren't supposed to be riding on the sidewalk!" The boy, who was maybe ten or eleven years of age, stopped his bike, turned to Barney, stuck out his tongue, and shot a bird at Barney raised as high as his short arms would allow. Barney gasped, "You can't do that! You can't make obscene gestures at a man of the law." The young boy laughed, and rode away with one hand on the handlebars and the other in the air, still brandishing the bird.

Barney growled under his breath, "Kids these days. I don't know what the world is coming to." Barney stuffed the garbage into a receptacle on the sidewalk, still murmuring, "Not only kids, grownups too."

Barney entered Floyd's barber shop; this had been where he was headed the entire time. The barber shop was empty, no sign of Floyd either, of course it was very early in the morning and Floyd was probably in the back eating breakfast. Barney called out for Floyd and there was no answer. Barney took the opportunity to spin the barber's chair around and watch it spin to a stop. He also took the scissors and chopped the blades open and closed, waving it through the air, as if it might be a fish swimming or a bird flying. That's when Barney noticed a smell. Something was burning. The smokey smell was coming from Floyd's office.

Barney entered the office and found Floyd standing with his bare feet on a silver platter. The platter had a clear fluid, maybe water, in it and a scatter of flower petals. The smoke was coming from a tall white candle burning on the floor to the left of the plate. Floyd was standing most still, his eyes closed, and was breathing very deeply. Barney stood with his face mere inches from Floyd's, and Floyd seemed to not notice at all. Barney then said in whisper, "Floyd?" Floyd did not flinch. "Pssst. Floyd?" Again, Floyd made no move. Barney then screamed, "FLOYD!"

Floyd started, his eyes popped open, and Barney caught him before he could fall to the floor. Floyd smiled, "Oh, Barney. Hello."

Barney helped Floyd regain his balance and slowly turned him loose, making sure Floyd could indeed stand, and then inquired, "Floyd, what in the world are you doing?"

"Oh, it's for my corns. I soak my feet for my corns. Doc Radley said it would soften my corns up. I have corns. You ever had corns Barney?"

Barney said, "It looked like you were asleep, just standing there."

Floyd said, "Oh, it's very relaxing also. My mind just sort of drifts. Which is a good thing because these corns are horrible. I bet you've never had corns, have you Barn? I see you wear good shoes. Maybe I need better shoes."

Barney blew out the candle, "And what's the candle for?"

Floyd said, "You don't like candles Barney? I would have taken you for a candle liker."

Barney said, "I just need a trim, Floyd. Can I get a trim?"

Floyd said, "Sure. I always have time for a trim. Go have a seat in the chair and I will be right out. I need to find my shoes. I can't cut hair in my bare feet." Floyd laughed, "Wouldn't that be funny? The barefoot barber. It sort of has a nice ring to it."

Floyd took his scissors after draping a sheet over Barney and began snipping at Barney's hair. He said to Barney, "You seem sort of tense, Barney."

Barney said, "I am sort of tense."

Floyd asked, "What's wrong?"

Barney replied, "It's everything. You probably haven't noticed, but the world is going to crap. Mayberry used to be better than it is now. The people. You know, the people used to help one another, have manners, all that stuff. Just seems like all of that is slowly going away."

Floyd agreed, "I know just what you mean, Barn. Just the other day, I saw these two dogs fighting in the street. You never used to see things like that."

Barney said, "I'm not talking about animals. I'm talking about people. People not helping one another, tossing garbage everywhere, kids are completely out of control. Things can only get worse."

"Yes, times used to seem better."

Barney said, "Times WERE better. I miss those days, the good old days."

Floyd stopped cutting and said, "Time marches forward. Times change. But there is always good people too, in it all. You're a good person, Barney. There is still good people like you."

Barney said, "Everyone used to be good. And then there was people who were great in the mix. Now, you are lucky to just find a good person mixed in it, and there are no great people at all."

"Oh, I don't know Barn. I think there are great people out there somewhere."

Floyd held a mirror to Barney and said, "There, how's that?"

Barney said, "Looks good, Floyd."

Floyd pulled the sheet from Barney and stepped back. Barney stood and asked, "What do I owe you?"

"Don't worry about it. It was a very minor trim."

Barney smiled, "That's nice, Floyd. Thanks."

Floyd said, "See, people can still be nice to one another."

Barney nodded and gave Floyd a pat on the shoulder. Barney stepped back out into the sun and turned step to the courthouse. His smile was still broad. He entered the courthouse and saw Andy working at his desk. Barney said, "Morning Andy."

Andy looked up and saw Barney's smile, he smiled back, "Well, good morning Barney. You look chipper this morning."

Barney pointed at his head, "Just had a haircut. That's a good way to start the day."

Andy agreed, "It is. It most certainly is. Want me tell you something that makes a good morning even better?"

Barney asked, "What?"

Andy pulled out an envelope from his top desk drawer and slapped it on the desk in front of Barney. Barney asked, "What's that?"

Andy said, "Guess."

Barney said, "I can't."

Andy said, "Go ahead. Try and guess."

Barney said, "I can't. A letter?"

Andy said, "Nope."

Barney asked, "Can I open it?"

"Can't guess can you?"

Barney said, "I just told you I couldn't. Can I open it?"

Andy said, "Yeah. Go ahead."

Barney grabbed the unsealed envelope and looked inside. His eyes bulged and pulled a bundle of money out. He thumbed through the cash, "Andy, there has to be at least two hundred dollars here."

Andy said, "Two hundred and twenty. And guess what?"

"What?" Barney asked.

"It's all yours."

Barney gasped, "All mine? What? Why? Where did this come from?"

"It's a thank you gift. Pauley's furniture is so grateful that we let their big trucks run through Mayberry to their warehouse, saves them lot of miles and money as opposed to going all the way around on the highway, that the owner sent us a thank you since they are saving so much money."

Barney said, "You know, we are really breaking a city ordinance letting those big trucks come through."

"I know, I know Barney. But they are good people, and they don't abuse it." Andy showed a very open toothy smile, "And the thank you ain't half bad either."

Barney said, "You know, Thelma Lou was eyeing this expensive dress in the store window. She can't afford it, and I couldn't either, but now I can get it for her."

Andy said, "Sure, sure you can. Why don't you run on over and make sure you get it before someone else does."

Barney's face glowed with joy, "Yeah? I think I will. I think I'll go over right now and pick it up."

"Do that."

"I will, I'm going to do that."

Barney scuttled out of the courthouse. Andy laughed while reflecting on the joy he had just witnessed.