“Just keep your hands where I can 
see them, Runt,” I said, not knowing   
why, and opened the door.              
     An old guy had two black heavy-   
duty plastic bags on a dolly behind    
him. As I opened the door wider, he    
grabbed the clipboard that was laying  
on top of them. Under the clipboard was
a bouquet of flowers.                  
     After verifying who I was supposed
to be, he said, “D told me to tell you,
he couldn't decide between the two, so 
he's giving you two for the price of   
one.” He almost smiled, and then added,
“'The good customer discount', were his
exact words. He even wrote it down.”   
     He handed me a note, that I had to
initial, before he’d allow me to take  
the two black bags. It read, “Good     
Customer Discount,” and under that,    
* “Call me if you have any problems.”      
     While initialing the note, I      
wondered when D started getting people 
to initial things. I gave it back, and 
he handed me a big bouquet of white and
red roses and pink carnations, with a  
little card attached to it, “For Lady  
Beth.”                                 
     I took the two packages and       
bouquet, thinking that maybe I should  
tip this guy, but he was off before I  
even finished the thought. Beth was    
right beside me, as I waved to him.    
     He didn't return the wave, or even
honk his horn.                         
     I gave Beth the bouquet, and the  
card, and she took them disgustedly,   
not knowing what to do with them.      
Finally, she trashed the flowers, but  
read the card and laughed. “In your    
dreams asshole,” and also trashed that,
after tearing it up into tiny little   
pieces.                                



CHAPTER 14: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31st
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