Missouri Part I

by Annie Vieira

For those that have been dependably following the development of Double Decker PDX, do not mistake my recent silence for inactivity. Although my personal preoccupation with studying and preparation for finals can make it feel as though life has fleetingly arrived at a gridlock, it seems that time certainly does wait for no man. While I have spent the last couple of weeks lost in my own reality of Shakespeare, MLA format, and #2 pencils, Brooks and Kent have remained interminably hard at work. If this website––with it’s new format and design––can act as a paradigm for the progress of the business in its entirety, I am undoubtedly impressed at the difference a month can make. It is this very realization that inspires me as I begin my final term of college. Three and a half months ago, Brooks and Kent had just completed the last finals of their college careers; and merely two days later were on a plane to St. Louis, Missouri, on the cusp of making perhaps the most important purchase of their entire lives.

In an indisputable alliteration, it would be safe to say that the boys had been bested by Boise. They left Idaho feeling slightly humbled, a little smaller, but certainly more knowledgeable. Brooks and Kent remained somewhat disheartened until surfing the internet a few weeks later when they caught their first glimpse of Candy. At the time, Candy was owned by Patrick McNally, the founder and head of McNally Properties––a leader in the commercial and residential real estate market in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. McNally Properties is run by Pat, along with his wife Patty, and their two sons Morgan and Mac. The McNally family had been using Candy as billboard advertising and become quite memorable around the Osage River area as the “double decker bus realtors.” Although they had invested a significant amount of money into the restoration and maintenance of the bus, the time had come that the cost-benefit no longer made sense and they reluctantly began to pursue a sale.

Though their experience in Boise had left them apprehensive about becoming too attached to a bus without seeing it, Brooks and Kent couldn’t help but feel a certain amount of hope and excitement. This bus was everything they wanted––rear loading, good condition, reasonably priced. When Brooks spoke with Patrick McNally on the phone and learned he was selling for significantly less than the original asking price, he and Kent erupted into a silent but elated celebratory dance in their kitchen. They immediately used PayPal to wire Patrick a 9% down payment, and booked flights to Missouri in order to leave as soon as their last finals were complete.

The next three weeks passed slowly. As each day went by, Brooks and Kent feared that another buyer would come along with a better offer. But, as they flew across the country that Saturday morning in early December, they were feeling hopeful and far better prepared. This time, they knew better––rather than carrying a large amount of cash, they had their banks verify the funds; and they promised themselves there would be no signing of paperwork or titles until they had properly discussed and sufficiently ruminated on any decision.

When they arrived in St. Louis, they were picked up at the airport by Mac McNally. Brooks and Kent instantly felt better about this situation––he picked them up in his fully functioning 4-door sedan and chatted amiably with them during the 2 and 1/2 hour drive to Osage Beach where the bus was parked in a lot adjacent to their company warehouse. When Candy’s double decks came into view in the distance, the boys were filled with irrepressible excitement.

That excitement only continued to build as Mac gave them the detailed tour. “Cosmetically,” Kent later told me, “she was damn near perfect.” Even a test drive could not deter them from this purchase. But still, Brooks and Kent had learned their lesson, and decided to wait on committing to any exchange until after a good night’s sleep. That evening, at Mac’s suggestion, Brooks and Kent deliberated between the four walls of Lake of the Ozark’s finest dining experience––Wobbly Boots. Between bites of a delicious Missourian cuisine of pulled pork, baked potato, and mac and cheese, it became clear that both boys felt a strong connection to this bus.

A couple of cocktails later, Brooks and Kent were walking to their hotel but decided instead to head back to the McNally Properties’ parking lot. Under the cover of darkness they were able to examine the bus without anyone else watching. There was no pressure, no expectant looks––it was just Candy and the boys. They hung out inside for a while, getting a feel for her and bonding with the vehicle. “That’s what really sealed the deal,” Brooks told me, “going back that night.”

The next morning at 5:45 Brooks and Kent met Mac at the parking lot to tell him the good news. Mac started the engine and let the bus warm up while they did the paperwork and signed the title. Although he was happy to make the sale, Mac was visibly emotional about parting with the bus. “Are you ready for this?” He asked them, referring to their upcoming drive. “This thing takes a pair of testicles,” he said, gazing contemplatively at the 30 foot long, 13.5 foot high, 8 foot wide, 16,000 pound vehicle. “I’ve got balls, Brooks––but the question is do you have the balls?” 

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