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“ It may be ten years before the first house is built and I have a shopping center in which no one in their right mind would rent space. Do you think you could turn it into a haunted house before next October if I paid you a thousand dollars a week with full benefits? Your bonus would be an even split of the net profit,” Frank finished. Eddie thought about what was being offered.“ Is there plenty of parking?” he asked.“ Yes, and no neighbors to complain about noise or traffic,” Frank answered.“ Give me the address. Let me see the property and I’ ll give you my answer.”“ Fair enough. Stop by my office and I’ ll give you the keys,” Frank said, placing a black business card with gold lettering on the scarred surface of the table.
Kate swung her legs from Eddie’ s grasp.“ Thank you that feels much better,” she said.“ My pleasure,” Eddie said, picked up the card and addressed Rodney.“ Bill has all the beer we can drink. Still interested?”“ Will there be food? I’ m starved.”“ Tons. Everyone brings something and Bill always has burgers, smoked sausage and hot dogs on the grill. Anyone else interested?” Eddie said, looking at the others. Frank, Brad, and Kate declined the offer graciously. Heading down the hall, Rodney asked,“ What’ s the dress code? And I didn’ t bring anything to add to the table.”“ Tanya is taking cakes from the bake sale and we can stop and pick up a few bags of chips.
It’ s a Halloween party, the dress code is what you are already wearing.”“ Cool!” Rodney said.“ What about the store?”“ You’ ll be walking in with Count Dracula, I think they will get it.”“ I’ ll get the ball and chain.”“ I’ ll freshen up my make-up, and meet you in the parking lot.”“ Cool.” The pair was not nearly so scary in the bright lights of the twenty-four hour Walmart. Eddie’ s cape billowed. Rodney carried the huge ball and chain, cuffed to his ankle, in one hand and the purple, plastic grocery basket in the other.
The cashier smiled at the pair as Rodney set the basket on the conveyor. She scanned the items.“ Are you a bad guy?” she crooned, as Rodney handed her a twenty dollar bill. He glanced at the chain.“ Just got out. Y’ all carry hacksaws?” he drawled, without cracking a smile.“ Hardware. But I might have one at my place you could borrow,” she said, tearing off the receipt and writing her name and phone number on the back. He stuffed the paper in his pocket.“ Charity worker?” he asked.“ No. I’ ll expect some kind of return service,” she said, without hesitation. Eddie thought it was funny no one in line complained about the minor delay. On the way to the vehicles,“ Smooth,” Eddie observed.“ I wasn’ t the one rubbing Blondie’ s long legs,” Rodney chuckled, climbing into his black Escalade.