volume one IN THE D U D L E Y C L A R K - Ohio Vine Tours

“With tax, it comes to $188.97.”
“Woah,” responds Rick. “You must be loaded, Roy.”
Roy’s headache returns.
It’s more money than he wanted to spend, to say the least.
Not that he doesn’t have it.
He just doesn’t want Rick to know he does.
His right, woolen, glove-covered hand makes a move towards
his pocket.
Three pairs of eyes follow.
Roy’s fingertips make contact with his cash.
He has brought exactly ten twenties with him, for no reason
other than chance.
Unless, of course, there is no such thing as chance.
So, he can afford a new player, new CDs, and new
headphones.
Major upgrades to his life.
But can he afford Rick knowing he can afford them?
The headphones, having made it to the honored place around
Roy’s neck, purr contentedly.
They are happy with their new owner, and he is happy with
them.
Reluctantly, he extracts the greenbacks and drops them onto
the counter.
Crisis averted, Smiling Jack deepens his already considerable
smile and exits the scene, returns with his book to his nearby
chair.
Score another one for Debi.
“Cool.”
She grabs the cash and exults—eleven more cheesy Chinese
players to go. If she gets rid of them all, Jack has promised to
wash and wax her car.
Rick studies the dozing Bose headphones around Roy’s neck.
“Big shit now.”
Debi opens the register, which causes her breasts to frolic.
Rick leers as she counts out Roy’s change.
“You want a bag for those?”
She indicates Roy’s new CDs with the tip of her finely chiseled
nose.
ROY ROGERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY 221