28 December 2001

"Can I have a pack of Camel menthols, please?"

"We don't have any. I sold them all."

"Don't mess with me," I reply to the gas station kid, good-naturedly. "I'll kill ya!"

"You can't kill me. I'm already dead."

"Mmm-hm. Yeah, you're already dead. Come on, man, I've heard it all before."

With a stupid grin, he hands over the cigarettes.

...And I leave the store thinking if only you knew...

~Helena*