Bisson_rucker_billys.. - Rudy Rucker

“Now give me my cigarette,” Billy said. He held out two fingers. He had seen that
on TV.
Vernon shook his head. He was wearing the helmet. “These girls are all standing
around,” he said. “I want one with girls in wheelchairs.”
He threw the magazine down and rolled back and forth over it. Then he threw it
back over the fence.
Billy picked up the magazine and ran back to the store.
He had to have a cigarette bad.
He tried to act cool. “I bought the wrong magazine,” he said. “I
one with girls in wheelchairs.”
want to swap it for
“This magazine is no good anymore,” said the store owner. “Somebody has rolled
over it. Besides, you didn’t buy it anyway. You stole it.”
Billy was shaking all over. He tried to lie. “I paid for it,” he said. “You just forgot.”
“Store owners don’t forget things,” said the store owner. “I’m calling the police.”
“I’m just a little boy,” said Billy. “My father’s a policeman.”
“He’s undercover,” said Billy.
§§
“No, he’s not,” said the store owner. “He’s in jail.”
“You are a big liar,” said the store owner. He took out a cell
the FBI.”
§§
phone. “Now I’m calling
The store owner made Billy wait while he called the FBI. Billy was shaking all over.
“Can I have a cigarette?” he asked.
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