where you headin’…

Vegas…

ever been there…

nope…

gonna make a fortune at the blackjack table…try your luck at roulette…why are you goin’ to Vegas…of all the places…I get scared of towns like that…pretend Paris…made-up Manhattan…doesn’t seem right…

I’m sure there’s other places ‘sides those…

yeah I’m sure there’s some town folk that go to real bars…24 hour diners…coffee shops that aren’t shiny and new…getta piece of pie or somethin’ that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg…what are ya gonna do out there for work…

I’m going to work at a pawn shop…just like the one on tv…getta job there and be a star…that’s ’bout the gist of it…

yeah…I see…how old are you…

seventeen…just quit high school…ready to make my fortune…see some things I’ve never seen ‘fore…

uh huh…I’ll bet you will…gotta nuff cash on ya…

a bill…

a bill…that’s it…

yeah….

that’ll be gone ‘fore ya get there…spend it on food and pop…

I figure if I keep back $50 til I get there that’ll be nuff to play the slots with…could make some money there…

are you delusional…you think ya just put a quarter in and out comes a fortune…hell…you’re not even legal to gamble…did’ya think of that…

lied ’bout my age ever since I was a kid…people always told me I looked older…

I see…got any ID on ya…

gotta license I got last year…

and you got that bill on ya huh…

yep…

you know kid…you talk too much…real eager to tell people your business…think people really care…think they’re concerned with your well-being… give me the bill son…

what…

said give me the bill…not playin’ ’round with you…you think I’m not packin’…I prey on punks like you…hand it over…teach you a valuable lesson…you should be grateful…

it’s all I got…

well…now you got nothin’ but a bus ticket…give it to me…

here…

see you’re payin’ me for my advice…don’t ever tell anyone your intentions…keep your business to yourself…got it…(the kid nodded his dirty blonde head) now good luck to ya…and…don’t take any wooden nickels…