Bisson_rucker_billys.. - Rudy Rucker

BILLY AND THE FLYING SAUCER
“Hey, Billy!” said Vernon. “Guess what.”
Vernon was the boy next door. Billy looked over the fence.
“What,” said Billy. He hated Vernon.
“I have a present for you,” said Vernon. He held up a cigarette.
“Cigarettes are bad for you,” said Billy.
“No, they are good for you,” said Vernon. “You got it backwards. That’s because you
are stupid.”
“No I’m not,” said Billy. But he wasn’t sure.
“Plus they are cool,” said Vernon. He gave the cigarette to Billy. “Smoke it.”
Billy smoked it. He knew how from TV. Then he puked on his shoe.
“Here’s another cigarette,” said Vernon. “You have two shoes.”
“Eat your turkey,” said Billy’s mother. It was supper time.
“I’m not hungry,” said Billy. “I smoked two cigarettes today.”
“Where did you get them?”
“Vernon gave them to me,” said Billy.
“That Vernon,” said Billy’s mother. “Cigarettes are bad for you.”
§§
“I thought so,” said Billy. Vernon was a big liar.
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