The Disillusionists cont'd...

Back in the motorhome, Alexis used a small sand-bag ashtray at the table while she and Jay played cribbage using a scoreboard Jay had drawn because it was his assertion that the scoreboard was essential to the game. Alexis was not convinced although she did note that it was interesting that he would go to all that trouble to make a board. It wasn't until she scored a last minute twenty-four pointer to land perfectly in the last peghole for the win that she admitted that the board really did matter.

The coach stopped at a small gas station at the end of a cancerous strip of fast food places, cheap hotels and big box outlets that led from the highway into some nameless, alcohol fueled town. It reminded May of the trips she had taken across the country where, "...every Tim Horton's was packed with the same people who were in the last one. It was as though they were bussed ahead of us and dropped off prior to our arrival."

Alexis agreed with her as she stocked up on sunflower seeds and bottled water. "I did that once and didn't get a decent cup of coffee the whole time."

Mike took a notebook off of a shelf and then took a pen out of his pocket and scribbled on it. He tore the page out and stuck the notebook back on the shelf. Alexis flipped throgh a copy of the Enquirer while holding up the queue. The staff stood in stunned silence as they weren't really used to 5' 11" ravel-haired beauties in knee high combat boots and short shorts in their store.

"Oh, sorry." she said finally, "gimmie two, no four packs of JPS..."

"You might as well get a carton." I said helpfully. She looked at me like I had just farted. "Or not." I continued.

Rummaging in her bag for her purse, she mumbled something about farm hands and then groaned theatrically and claimed, "I can't find my bank card."

Mike elbowed his way to the front of the line, "I got it," he said.

"Thanks." said Alexis, who grabbed the seeds, water and smokes from the counter and went out the door without another word. Jay followed her out to the camper. He had taken advantage of the scene at the front of the store to shove several magazines under his shirt.

Once on the road, Jay took stock of his haul, "I got... World Weekly News, Competitive Gambler, Newsweek and Big Naturals. Which would you like to read first?"

"Big Naturals," said Alexis.

"Wrong. That one's mine. Here, take World Weekly."

"Why did you get a Newsweek?" said Mike. this time from behind the wheel.

"I don't know..." Jay settled back in the couch with his magazine, "I was in a bit of a hurry."