Growing up, each Mill Town was a self-contained entity. Each one had grocery stores, apothecaries, butchers, notions, and everything else a person could need. McKeesport had a department store named “Cox’s”. It wasn’t posh, but it sold clothing that was nicer than most places.
Every Mill Town also had 20 bars full of Mill Hunky’s. Today, these old skool Mill Hunks are a dying breed, but God – they were spectacular fun to have a beer with. A crowded bar room would be a cacophony of voices at full throat followed by uproarious laughter. It was a game of sorts, or a tradition. The full-throated voices contain barbs launched at other patrons. The laughs would come from all of the other customers who heard the friendly insult. The person at the receiving end of the insult would loudly launch a retort, which was also met with hearty laughter. This was called, “Agitating”. It would go on for hours.
If a patron took offence to the insult, the barmaid, would say, “Don’t pay any attention to Petey. He’s just agitating.”.
Some of these guys were professionals. Petey was Professional.
(Note: Remember I mentioned “Cox’s” above).
A guy named Barto walks in wearing a red suit.
Petey says, “Hey Barto, what’s up with that red suit?”
Barto says, “It’s brown. My suit is brown.”
Petey says, “I think you misunderstood my advice.”
Barto says, “What?”
Petey says, “I told you that you should go to Cox’s and get a seer sucker suit, but it looks like you went to Sears and got a cock-sucker suit.”
(Cue Laughter)