Neither more nor less

This last Saturday night a Fox News crew including a camera man , a sound man and a producer braved a major storm to pay a visit to Ray and his candy store . The crew put a wire on Ray and let the camera roll . We suspect that the neighborhood and Ray made their visit an enchanted one .

We were told that the crew wanted to get some footage of the volunteer delivery team in action when we first spoke with the producer a day earlier . Fox was working on a special hour long program that would show some of what is good about America , that is folks helping each other . We were told that this program would air in late April or early May. Fox hoped that the visit to Ray's would yield some footage that could be used for one of the stories included in this hour-long program .Also some of the story from Ray's would run locally a couple of times in the next week or so .

The Fox crew got the footage that they came for . They taped the delivery team in action . They were able to tape a team member at the computer receiving an order and then a bit later a member mounting her bicycle outside the store and riding off in the rain .Later in the evening Fox interviewed the delivery team members . There was more to come .

Soaked families came in from the rain . Kids while eating Ray's ice cream spoke to the camera telling why they loved Ray and his candy store . Several regular customers came in and told the crew why Ray and his candy store are so special . Everyone made it clear that Ray is special , irreplaceable ; Ray is an important friend.

Ray , who has been talking to a lot of cameras these days , was now at ease talking to a camera , easily answering questions from the producer . He told of his problems with paying the rent lately . He showed the camera his Con Edison bill and made it very clear that if he is forced to quit frying his Belgian Fries that he will be put out of business .

Ray also told the camera that he was amazed by all that people have done for him . He mentioned the folks that came all the way from Virginia to be at his benefit . In the midst of Ray's on-camera commentary a man that had given him a large donation walked in and Ray thanked him in front of the camera . Ray thanked everyone who has been a good friend and all those that have helped him in these difficult trying times .

One of the regulars , Karl , Ray's favorite Trotskyist , soaked by the storm outside walked into the crowded , chaotic candy store . Karl was hungry and as usual broke . He had just been denied credit at the restaurant next door . He asked Ray for some fries on credit telling him that he promised that he would pay him later .Ray argued a bit and likely fearing that Karl might create problems , told Karl to go to the front window just as he had told One Arm Larry to do a couple of days earlier . The Fox crew followed Karl out the door into the intense rain . The crew taped Karl waiting for his fries .

When Ray brought the fries to the window Karl complained that there was no cheese on them . Ray went to the back and cheesed the fries . Fox watched and taped . Ray returned with the cheese fries and placed them in the hands of a now satisfied Karl .

Karl tried to eat the fries outside but the storm was just too intense . He asked Ray to let him come back inside to eat his fries , again promising to settle up with him later . Ray relented and Karl ate his fries on Ray's famous blue counter . Karl , gorging his free fries at the counter , took a brief moment to breathe and then asked Ray for a tea with lemon . Fox taped it all .