Talc Cheap Legal

     The Dunwich Bill passed.  Little changed.  Soapers were still
marginalized.  Sure, you could buy talc in 7-11s or in bars but no
one did who hadn't before.  In fact, talc use actually declined. 
Needless to say, both the far right and the far left felt pretty
stupid, as did all the congressmen who'd promised their
constituents lower taxes, more jobs, the whole ball of beans.  None
of it materialized.  Nobody really cared.
     "You were right," I said.  "I admit it.  But at least the
jails are less crowded.  And you don't have to keep checking the
rear-view for flashing lights."
     "Bad habits die hard."
     "Let's rent a movie," I said.
     "Almodovar?  Bruce Willis?"
     "Stop, or I'll make you watch 'Last Year at Marienbade'
again."
     "I give.  We got any Sausalito's?"
     "You're still on the ride.  I broke, you know."
     "Well, I guess I'm just more than a fair-weather fan."
     "Old soaper."  I tossed him the bag of cookies, put on my coat and
grabbed the car keys off the hook by the door.
     "Pick up 'Sid and Nancy'."
     "You ole softie."
     He gave me that wistful 'I remember when rock was young' look and
I headed out.

     On the way to the store, I saw some girls on a corner.  I
pulled over.  I had a new pitch in mind.
     "It's the talc lady," one said.
     "Hi, talc lady."
     "I'm off the ride, girls.  No more talc.  I got something
better."
     "Better?  Not more Lysol?"
     "No.  This is the real shit."  I reached into my bag, fumbled
around blindly for a while, found what I was looking for, opened it
up, counted my way over, and pulled out a tiny little pill.
     "Whazzat?"
     "PLA-CEE-BOW.  100% pure."
     "What's it do?"
     "Anything you want it to.  N.  E.  Thing."
     "Wow."
     "How much?"
     "The three of you.  I'll give you one each for three large."
     They had the money.  These were good girls.  They swallowed the
pills.  'Sid n Nancy' was out so I rented "Repo Man" and Spheeris' first
"D.O.A.".  On the way back I saw the girls on the corner.  Their
pupils were so dilated it looked like a total iris eclipse.  They
stumbled around and asked me when I could get some more.  
     There'll always be a game.

renee@netcom.com
Bonus SSC:  I admit the title Talc is Cheap *did* cross my mind.