So Chico asks me if I want to come to their meeting.
"There's a dinner afterwards" he told me.
"What meeting?" I asked him.
"The Long Shirt Society" he said.
"Never heard of it" I replied. "Sounds dull."
"Well, yes" Chico admitted. "We mostly meet
for the good food afterwards. The secretary is
a fabulous cook; you should taste her braised ribs!"
"Is this a membership drive?" I asked suspiciously.
"Well, yes" admitted Chico. "We need more dues-paying
members so we can afford to buy
a DeLonghi espresso machine."
"No thanks" I said firmly. "I'm not a joiner.
How about a ride home?"
We drove in silence for a while.
"Here you are" Chico said, pulling
up to my house. "That'll be one-hundred
and seventy-five dollars."
"What are you talking about?" I nearly screamed at him.
"You never said anything about money when
I asked you for a ride home!"
"Mister" said Chico, "I drive a taxi cab.
I picked you up three hours ago at
the airport."
"I thought you were my friend,
a good friend" I said bitterly, as I
got out my wallet.
"Well, I did invite you to a meeting
and dinner, Mister" he said quietly
as he ran my card.
"Well, I guess it's okay" I said,
trying out a half smile on him.
"Would you like to come in for some
Postum and a quick video before you head back
into town? The gridlock is terrible this time of
day."
"What video is that, Mister?" he asked,
squinting at me.
"Meet the Mormons" I said cheerfully.
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