the empty road - 32. the girl

by bofa xesjum

part thirty-two of forty

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the little girl with the ponytail stares long and hard at john prester from behind the counter, sizing him up. like wyatt earp sizing up billy the kid when he pushes through the door of the last chance saloon. we get a lot of people in here, she finally says, i suppose most of them have friends. that is a very intelligent observation, john prester counters brightly, you must be an intelligent young woman how about you and your friend, how intelligent are you? she shoots back, apparently enjoying herself. don't you want to know what my friend looked like? john replies with a laugh. was he wearing a dodgers cap snd a t-shirt saying don't tread on me? that does not sound like tommy - that's his name - tommy., john prester laughs. this is not going as smoothly as it might, john thinks ruefully. then what was he wearing, the girl persists - this tommy person. i do not know, i didn't see him this morning. i just know he headed this way, john adds. the girl stares at john without saying anything.. do you want to buy something, mister? oh, i have to buy something? you don't have any friend. how do you know? i just do, john laughs uncertainly. next