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May 06, 2004
Store #1
The newspaper was wrapped in good news. Carl stooped over it trying to smooth it from the breeze coming through the cracked window. “Ah His Excellency the Counselor is at it again, making the world a safer, better place I see. And in only his first 71 months since the uprising…” He mumbled under his thick brown and gray mustache. He squinted in the dim light from the window. “Wish he could fix the weather though, it’s been gray-brown and drizzle for near on 19 months. No summer and no winter. Just brown rain.” He thought.
Suddenly the door scrapped open and a blast of hot breeze frightened the papers into a confused mess in Carl’s hands. He looked of the top of his glasses, annoyed and arching his eyebrows at the stranger entering his lonely store. He hadn’t had a customer all day and it was almost 2. He let the papers fall to his feet.
The tall thin man browsed the shelves for a half a minute and picked out some essentials: a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, and a gallon of bottled water. He swung his large pack to the floor placing the items on the counter for Carl to scan which he did in turn. The tall man rubbed the thick brown stocking hat but did not remove it. After the water had been scanned he opened it and drank as though he had not tasted any as pure in a month.
“That’ll be 15.85” Carl challenged. The tall man stopped and looked rather taken aback at the steep price, shook his head and reached a fingerless glove into his heavy coat pulling out a large wad of dirty bills.
Carl jumped in “Don’t take cash no more, not in 13 months. Don’t know what I would do with it after the bank closed. I’ll take your credit though.”
The man’s eyes glowed angrily and his voice cracked: “There good dollars.”
“Sorry, only credit.”
The man pushed the bills towards him. “Here’s double. Take it.” Then he started packing the food up into the dusty pack.
When Carl tried to protest the man just glared at him.
Then he understood, staring at the gloved hands and thick hat. In a small voice he stuttered: “I see… you don’t have any credit…. I’m not supposed to sell to you.”
The man ignored Carl and turned to walk out as his voice pinched to a whine: “Come back here or… or I’ll report you…. at least don’t tell anyone that it was me. I could be arrested!”
The blast of air rustled the papers as the man vanished into the dim midday sun. The door banged closed behind him.
Posted by paul at May 6, 2004 12:00 AM
Comments
wow.
that... is amazing...
Posted by: Matt at May 6, 2004 08:41 AM
:::thanks man:::
Posted by: paul at May 6, 2004 05:40 PM
paul, I was without internet since Friday, so this is the first time I've had a chance to read this. Shock and awe. What isn't said is as powerful as what is said.
Just wow!
Posted by: kathy at May 11, 2004 03:16 PM
So, what's this about?
Posted by: Tony at May 12, 2004 12:27 AM