Chapter 40

“I’m diabetic.”

I presented her with the flowers instead. “Roses.”

“Allergic.”

“To roses?” She shrugged. “I reached inside my pocket. “Maryjane?”

She rolled her eyes. “You should’ve started off with that, sonny. Always lead with your best hand.” She walked from behind the counter. She was a small woman with a large head of hair and thick bifocals. She looked like Mr. Magoo with boobs. FYI, Mr. Magoo was voiced by Jim Backus, also known as Thurston Howell the Third from Gilligan’s Island. I envied his career trajectory. As to the store she owned, not so much. Nope, no envy there. The place was empty. Based on the merchandise, I wasn’t surprised. In fact, I wondered why she even bothered.

In any case, she grabbed the joint. “Can we talk?” I asked.

She turned the open sign to closed. She locked the front door. She led me to a back room, which was overflowing with what passed for as antiques, if just slightly. “This stuff any good?” she asked, admiring the tightly rolled joint.