Consensus Deemed Incomplete Without Additional Confirmation Of Consensus
By Tom Seest
At Sequatchie Crossing, we tell the stories of Sequatchie Crossing.
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🎤 Audio Overview
Public Input Requested Before Acting on Issue Everyone Already Agrees Ons
Act I – The Agreement That Didn’t Count Yet
Location: Town Hall
The folding chairs were already arranged in a neat semicircle by the time folks started filtering into Town Hall. Not because anyone expected disagreement—but because the chairs had been arranged that way last time, and no one saw a reason to change it.
Clovis Strickland stood near the front, holding a clipboard with several pages clipped neatly in place. Each page was labeled: Input Round 6 – Preliminary Consensus Confirmation.
He tapped the pen against the clipboard like a man measuring time itself.
“We’re gonna start this here shortly,” Clovis announced, though no one had asked.
Mabel Dean Ashcroft sat in the second row with her purse in her lap and her patience already wearing thin.
“We already started this six weeks ago,” she said.
Pastor Arnold Peeler raised a gentle hand. “Now, Mabel, we’re not starting again. We’re continuing the process of making sure everyone feels heard.”
“They was heard,” Mabel replied. “They said the same thing then they sayin’ now.”
Boot Barnes leaned back in his chair, boots stretched out in front of him, arms folded.
“Ain’t a soul in here changed their mind since the first meeting,” Boot said. “Only thing changed is we got more paper about it.”
Clovis nodded thoughtfully, writing something down.
“That’s valuable input,” he said.
“It ain’t new input,” Boot replied.
Sheriff Peeler stood near the back wall with Daisy the hound resting at his feet. Daisy thumped her tail once, unimpressed.
Officer Kenny Joe Teeter leaned over. “Sheriff, you think we gonna decide tonight?”
Sheriff Peeler shook his head slowly. “No sir. Tonight’s about confirmin’ that we all still agree.”
“Didn’t we confirm that last week?”
“We did,” Sheriff Peeler said. “But that was before we opened the confirmation to additional perspectives.”
Act I – The Agreement That Didn’t Count Yet
Act II – Porch Consensus, Reconfirmed Informally
Location: Mabel’s Front Porch
The porch creaked like it always did, and the chairs settled into their usual complaints as Mabel, Evelyn Grace Tipton, and Lurleen Davenport sat with iced tea sweating in their hands.
“I told ‘em down there,” Mabel said. “We already talked about this.”
Evelyn nodded. “We did. Twice at church, once at the diner, and once out here.”
Lurleen sipped her tea. “And everyone agreed each time.”
“Exactly,” Mabel said. “So now they want to talk about it again so they can confirm that we still agree?”
Evelyn tilted her head. “Seems like they don’t trust the agreement unless it’s written down three different ways.”
From the yard, a cluster of chickens clucked loudly, pacing in small, determined circles.
“They got opinions,” Lurleen said, watching them.
“About what?” Mabel asked.
“Hard to say. Sounds urgent though.”
Mabel stared at the chickens. “Ain’t one of them said anything new in ten years.”
The chickens clucked louder.
Act II – Porch Consensus, Reconfirmed Informally
Act III – The Diner Review Session
Location: Dot’s Diner
The booth was crowded with familiar faces—RT Mullins, Sonny Morales, Maggie Sue Dillard, and Coach Freddie Stubblefield.
RT flipped through a printed packet.
“This says we’re reviewing prior input for consistency with current sentiment,” RT read aloud.
Sonny raised an eyebrow. “What’s that mean?”
“It means we’re checking to see if folks still feel the same way they already said they feel,” Maggie Sue replied.
Coach Stubblefield leaned forward. “Did anybody change their mind?”
“No,” RT said.
“Then what’s the review for?”
“To confirm stability of opinion,” Sonny said, reading over his shoulder.
Coach leaned back. “Stability’s been confirmed. Ain’t nobody moved.”
Maggie Sue nodded. “Not even a little.”
From the counter, Dot hollered, “Y’all want refills or just more paperwork?”
“Coffee,” RT said. “Paperwork’s already free.”
Act III – The Diner Review Session
Act IV – Data Collection Continues
Location: Town Hall Side Room
Clovis stood at a long table with Chester Ray Blevins, who was running the print shop extension for the meeting.
“We’ve got 126 identical responses,” Chester Ray said.
Clovis nodded. “That shows strong alignment.”
“It shows repetition,” Chester Ray replied.
“Repetition strengthens consensus,” Clovis said.
Chester Ray paused. “Or it means folks are sayin’ the same thing over and over.”
Clovis wrote that down. “Important distinction.”
Trixie Jo Bartlett walked in holding her phone. “I just posted another survey online.”
Clovis looked up. “What’s this one for?”
“To make sure people who already answered can answer again if their feelings about their answer have evolved.”
“Have they?” Chester Ray asked.
“No,” Trixie said. “But we won’t know that unless we ask again.”
Act IV – Data Collection Continues
Act V – Church Voices Encouraged
Location: First Fellowship Church
Pastor Peeler stood at the pulpit, hands open.
“Now, congregation, we’re here today not just to worship—but to listen,” he said. “If anyone has thoughts on the matter before the town, now is the time to share them.”
Sister Lila Mae “Hallelujah” Pruitt stood immediately.
“We done shared!” she declared. “We shared last Sunday and the Sunday before!”
Pastor Peeler smiled. “And today, we affirm that sharing by allowing space for it again.”
Boot leaned over to Sheriff Peeler. “He’s preachin’ the same sermon with more steps.”
Sheriff Peeler nodded. “Seems that way.”
From the pew behind them, Tiffany Annette Roark whispered, “I got nothin’ new to add, but I’d hate to not say nothin’ in case they count silence as disagreement.”
Shelley Fawn Wexler chimed in softly, “I already wrote my thoughts down. Twice.”
Pastor Peeler raised his voice. “Let no voice go unheard—even if that voice echoes.”
The congregation murmured agreement.
Act V – Church Voices Encouraged
Act VI – Medical Evaluation of Agreement Fatigue
Location: Dr. Cowgill’s Office
Dr. Neil Cowgill leaned back in his chair as Boot sat across from him.
“What brings you in?” the doctor asked.
“Fatigue,” Boot said.
“Physical?”
“No,” Boot replied. “Agreement fatigue.”
Dr. Cowgill blinked. “Explain.”
“We all agree on somethin’, and they keep askin’ if we still agree until I’m too tired to care whether I agree or not.”
Dr. Cowgill nodded slowly. “How long has this been going on?”
“Six weeks,” Boot said. “Might be longer if you count the first agreement.”
Dr. Cowgill scribbled notes. “Symptoms include repetition, diminished enthusiasm, and excessive documentation?”
“That about covers it.”
Dr. Cowgill tapped his pen. “Treatment recommendation: limit exposure to unnecessary reconfirmation.”
Boot chuckled. “You might wanna tell Town Hall that.”
Act VI – Medical Evaluation of Agreement Fatigue
Act VII – Youth Perspective Added
Location: High School Gym
Coach Stubblefield stood before a group of students, including Brett and Alyssa Crenshaw.
“Alright, folks,” Coach said. “We’re gatherin’ youth input.”
Alyssa raised her hand. “About what?”
“The issue.”
“What issue?” Brett asked.
“The one everyone agrees on,” Coach said.
Brett shrugged. “If everyone agrees, what do we need to say?”
Coach paused. “We need to confirm that you also agree.”
Alyssa exchanged a look with Brett. “We agree.”
Coach wrote it down. “Good. Now, would you say that agreement is strong, moderate, or unchanged?”
“Unchanged,” Brett said.
“Consistently unchanged,” Alyssa added.
Coach nodded. “That’s valuable input.”
Act VII – Youth Perspective Added
Act VIII – The Final Confirmation Meeting
Location: Town Hall
The room was fuller than before. Papers stacked higher. Voices softer.
Clovis stood at the front.
“We have gathered extensive input,” he said. “Across multiple rounds, locations, and formats.”
Mabel raised her hand. “And what’s it say?”
Clovis flipped through his notes. “It says… we all agree.”
Boot let out a slow breath. “Well, there it is.”
Pastor Peeler stepped forward. “Before we act, we must ensure that this agreement reflects every voice.”
“It does,” Mabel said. “It’s the same voice sayin’ the same thing.”
Sheriff Peeler crossed his arms. “Seems settled.”
Clovis hesitated. “There is one final step.”
The room groaned softly.
“What now?” RT asked.
“We must open a brief window for any last-minute input.”
Mabel stood up. “Ain’t nobody got nothin’ left to say!”
From outside, the chickens clucked louder than ever.
Everyone paused.
Sheriff Peeler looked toward the window. “You hear that?”
Boot nodded. “They sound real sure about it.”
Clovis scribbled something down. “Noted: increased volume from poultry sector.”
Act VIII – The Final Confirmation Meeting
Act IX – The Decision Deferred by Completion
Location: Sheriff’s Office Porch
The sun was setting as the core group gathered—Boot, Mabel, Clovis, Pastor Peeler, Sheriff Peeler, and Daisy.
“Well,” Boot said, “we done everything but act.”
Clovis adjusted his papers. “We’ve achieved full consensus validation.”
Mabel sighed. “And what are we gonna do with it?”
Clovis paused.
“We’ll prepare for implementation… pending final review of the confirmation process.”
Boot stared at him. “So we’re gonna confirm that we confirmed?”
Pastor Peeler smiled gently. “We’re ensuring the integrity of the agreement.”
Sheriff Peeler leaned back. “Feels like we done lassoed the same cow three times and still ain’t brought it home.”
Daisy barked once.
The chickens clucked in the distance, unwavering.
Act IX – The Decision Deferred by Completion
Epilogue – The Agreement That Stayed Put
Weeks passed.
The agreement remained intact, untouched, perfectly preserved beneath layers of confirmation.
No one disagreed.
No one acted.
The chickens kept clucking.
Epilogue – The Agreement That Stayed Put
Disclaimer
The events depicted in this story are entirely fictional and are meant for satirical purposes. Any resemblance to real towns, processes, or individuals is purely coincidental. No chickens were consulted in the making of this story, though their input was acknowledged.
Disclaimer – Public Input Requested Before Acting on Issue Everyone Already Agrees On
Real Places Behind the Ruckus – From The Dunlap Directory
Real Places Behind the Ruckus – From The Dunlap Directory
Yes, this story was fictional; even the parts that weren’t true. These places? Absolutely real. Stop by, support local, and keep the Wi-Fi away from livestock:
- Worth Coffee Co
- Hillcrest Farm
- Austin Mitchel Jennifer
- Chimneys State Natural Area
- Sunny Valley Thrift
- Impact Athletics Co.
- Newson Stone & Masonry
- Chamber of Commerce of Dunlap
- Running Wild Inflatables
- Pinpoint Customs Collision
- Fairlane Fabrics
- Stevenson Branch Campsite
- Fall Creek Falls – Family Campground A & E
- Gibson Construction Services
- Sculpture Fields at Montague Park
- 580 Tactical Training
- Heritage Painting
- Sequatchie County Public Library
Real Places Behind the Ruckus – From The Dunlap Directory
At Sequatchie Crossing, we tell the stories of Sequatchie Crossing.
Please share this post with your friends, family, or business associates who may want follow the news from Sequatchie Crossing.
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