he was hustlinghad a habit to
feed
Mrs Bayer called left a message
she cancelled the patio pour tomorrow
he called back
Mrs Bayer.
Billy.
Yes.
How can I help you?
Wouldya lemme pour tomorrow,
bitch. he didnt say that
If I may, I’ve a schedule to keep, if I can’t
pour tomorrow that will affect my projects timeline and I can’t say when I’ll
be able to work you back in. I would be
negligent if I didn’t remind you . . our contract.
Oh no, I understand, we have a contract,
whenever you’d be able to work me back in is fine, however not for the next six
weeks.
Whadafuck! he didnt say
Not for six weeks. cash
now May I ask why?
The cicada.
The bug?
Yes. They’re everywhere. I can’t
walk on my lawn without stepping on them. I certainly don’t want them on or entombed
in my freshnew patio.
I imagine you can
understand.
MONEY
Mrs Bayer. You expressly asked that
while I’m finishing off the patio I leave the southwest corner wet so you could
write in it.
Yes.
Dating it, likely, your name,
likely.
Yes.
Have you thought about this? MONEY
The cicada happen only every thirteen seventeen years. Their tiny footprints
would be, well, kinda historic, and you may be, I don’t know about other
contractors, but you may be the only one who would have permanent evidence of
this time.
Really kinda historic.
I didn’t think of that.
I
did bitch MONEY
I’m just saying. Or.
Or?
You can enter a venture with me.
We can take advantage of these bugs. You said you have lots?
Yes, disgusting, you wouldn’t believe
it, can’t walk anywhere without stepping on them.
Perfect. Ground floor. Novelty
item. MONEY
Chocolate-covered cicada. And I’ve no problem eating a few in front of people
to sell ‘em. I remember the chocolate-covered peanutbutter balls you shared
with me when we poured the pad for your storage.
Delicious.
MONEY I’ve looked it up.
Oh my goodness, my gosh . .
.
. No no listen, I’ve looked it up.
They contain
twentyonepointfour grams of crude protein per onehundred grams, which is onepointsix
percent more than that found in pork and eggs, and in contrast with, and much
less than pork and beef, its crude fat content is awfully low, twopointsix
grams per onehundred grams.
I looked it up. I’m not jiving
you. MONEY
I’ll tell you what, Billy.
If you
come today, collect all the cicada you can and can minimise them on my patio, I
can suffer a few footprints for posterity. I’d also cover that time, we’ll call
it a bonus, and pay half of tomorrow’s pour upfront too.
MONEY
You’re a goddess, Mrs Bayer, an
absolute goddess.
she giggled
Mr Bayer called me that while we were dating. Thank you.
No, thank you. I’ll be right
over.
Billy hustled
2006, Reggaefriday,
24 5. 24
1023, Saturday,
25 5. 24
