I thank the folks who bought books today on Bay Parkway. Here's an excerpt from Button, the story that Marie liked so much:
"Listen to this one, hon'," said a fit, balding man, eyes fixed on a computer monitor. "'Ever wish you could get rid of someone at the push of a button?'"
Edie chuckled and poked her head past the entrance to the kitchen. "I can think of a half-dozen people right now - and that's only students."
Silently, he read further. "...Former fed employee on the run, looking for revenge against those who wronged him... Supply very limited. First come, first served. Act now before I vanish from this earth. Absolutely free, no strings. Just leave name and address, which will be deleted once the order is filled. Click here to eliminate any doubt as to the effectiveness of this product."
He moved the mouse, and an article appeared: "Mysterious Rise in Coronaries Puzzles Officials."
"Turn it off now, hon'," said Edie. "They just pulled up. And don't you dare order anything else."
After dinner they retired to the living room. When the baby kicked the others rushed to touch Edie's belly. Although she was five years older than Jan, her sister, who had two teenagers, this was her first child.
"I can't wait," she said, beaming. "Five months seems an eternity. We put it off so long. I didn't think it was ever gonna happen."
She was pained by memory. She'd been pregnant in the first year of the marriage. They decided it was too soon. Only Pete knew. She'd never even told Jan, to whom she felt closer than anyone. She hoped the birth of her child would vanquish that pain forever.
They conversed idly, slouched, completely comfortable with each other. Pete had removed his glasses. The familiar faces were a blur.
"Find anything interesting online lately?" said Ted, Jan's husband.
His wife smirked. "Are we gonna hear about smut again?"
Pete mentioned the page he'd last visited.
"Oh, wow," said Ted, "think of all the good you could do."
"Politicians, lawyers," said Pete, "actors who tell you how to vote."
"Drug dealers, degenerates," said Jan, perking up. "It wouldn't take long to make the world a better place."
"Televangelists," said Ted, raising hackles.
"Telemarketers," said Pete, forging a unanimous consensus.
"If only it were real," said Jan wistfully, sighing.
"I'm not so sure," said Edie, suddenly troubled, wondering if the presence of the baby were influencing her. "I don't know if I'd be able to do it."
"But you wouldn't even have to look your target in the eye," said Ted, leaning forward. "Wouldn't there be a lot more killing if it weren't for that?"
"Isn't that why abortion's so popular?" added Jan.
Pete felt Edie flinch. He was annoyed, and surprised. She hadn't been blue about it in a while. He'd thought she'd finally put it behind her when the pregnancy test came back positive. 18 years had passed - she should've gotten over it long ago.
He spoke up to move the conversation away from her pain. "Who would you off?" He found his use of gangster vernacular curious.
Suddenly there was silence. They experienced a rare discomfort as a group. Other than internet pornography, this was as dangerous as their conversation had ever become.
Read Vic's stories, free: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
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