The wild-west town known as Steemit.

Taking a deep breath in the humidity, I stepped off the porch into the sun shod day. Casting a look back as I walked, it seemed there was too much work to do to finish the home, but I took pleasure in the fact I had made every post myself. I turned again to concentrate on my direction, and headed toward the town. It hadn't escaped my notice new buildings were going up on blocks all down one-cent lane; things were looking like this town would have a future.

Walking down Steem main street, I watched in wonderment at all the different people, from seemingly all walks of life and different places, mingling and sharing their lives with others. I had seldom seen such diversity, and such an eagerness to help one another, which was surely a rarity these days.

It was when I temporarily removed my Stetson to bat at some flies, that I caught the stranger's eye. He seemed to squint from under his stove pipe and then, with a spark of recognition, made his way meaningfully toward me. I placed my hat squarely back on my head to shield the sun from my eyes, and moved my hand to caress reassuringly at the weapon strapped to my side.
He smiled at this and threw out a hand as he approached "Howdy pardner! No need to feel squirrelly. Fact is, with all these newcomers, it's nice to see a familiar face."
Relieved, but still a little wary, I took his hand in a firm shake and offered a "much obliged. How do you know me friend?"

He held the grip on my hand, moved a little closer, and squinted again, as if sizing me up. "Oh, that's right, I've seen you working out there at one-cent lane but you may not have noticed me. I've seen your work and I see you take the time to ensure your posts are made and placed with pride. You probably deserve a place closer to town, but you'll get there, I'm sure. In fact, I'm just over there on one-buck road". He pointed.

I glanced over and nodded knowingly, as if I understood where it was. I didn't. He continued
"Say, I know you are but a few weeks here, do you mind if I offer some words of advice?"
Before I knew it he had thrust a clasped hand around my back to the shoulder and pulled me square to his side. With all the flare of a magician introducing his audience to the props on stage, he arced his other arm, palm outstretched, to take in the town. "This....is the future my friend. A new type of town where all are welcome. Everyone likes to say howdy to new people as it adds diversity to the town and helps it to grow. Just ask most folks and they'll give you the right advice and not steer you wrong".

He seemed to think about these well worn words and became a little serious. His grasp became a little tighter on my shoulder as he moved in to talk with a voice barely above a whisper. His other hand pointed briefly at the large hill outside of town, and as he spoke that same hand moved to gently tap a single finger on my chest as if to punctuate his words. " Hey, see that hill brother? That there is where the Whale family live. They aint so much related as share a name, and that makes every one of them a little different. Some will help you at the drop of a hat, some would rather see your face in the mud for disagreeing with you, and some are just out there to enjoy themselves because they have the best views in town. Heard tell a Whale made a thousand dollars fer saying a handful of words once. The ones below the Whales? that there is their followers, I've heard their family is just as diverse and some call them Remora, just because that's a type of fish that attaches to a whale!" at this seemingly inside joke he seemed to choke slightly and then let out a belly laugh that I could do nothing but feel infected by, I began to smile. My newfound friend palmed my chest gently, and cleared the tears from his eyes. "That's the spirit friend, don't be so serious. You have a chance to make a living like the rest of us!"

Regaining his composure, he let his hand drop and released his grip as if to move away and said "I hear some tubers who heard about this place are coming on the next train. Seems they had a run in with the sheriff out there giving new laws and such. They may be bringing friends. Seems this town is gonna get a lot bigger and crowded before too long."
His gaze became honest then as he started to walk away and he stopped to look briefly back. "Seems we'll have to work a bit harder for a buck eh? Oh well, It was good to catch you, I'd been seeing you around, and spec I'll be seeing you again. Hey, maybe those Whales will see our posts and think we are worth the effort to follow and we'll get a place closer to the other end of town?" He stopped and threw a quick glance at Whale hill then, and turned to walk away. I called out to thank him for his information and friendship, and saw his hand thrust up in the crowd and waving before it was gone and I was alone again. I threw a glance at Whale hill, smiled, shook my head and made my way to the saloon just as a train whistle made itself known in the distance.