Dream XCIX

I and another fellow were gangsters in a small town. We weren't very threatening, though, and often used to hang around a small clothing business called Al and Moe's Clothing.

One day we were discussing gangster business, particularly our lack of it, and Al's wife told us we looked very non-intimidating standing in the children's clothing section. Perhaps, she suggested, we should get money by threatening tourists.

We thought that was a great idea, but as she walked back to her kitchen, we were ashamed we hadn't thought of it.

"Let's take some clothes and throw the hangers off the racks," I suggested. "That'll show that we're not to be treated lightly." I grabbed a handful of kids clothes and shook them off the rack; the hangers kind of drifted downward but didn't hit the floor.

My partner grabbed another handful and shook them off as well. None of the clothes hit the ground, but we felt we'd shown her.

Suddenly we saw her running towards us, and we ran like mad to get out of the store. She was very heavy so we were sure she couldn't catch us, but we were frightened enough by the prospect that we ran faster than we ever had to get away.

She was shouting how we were going to get it, but, she added, not from her. "I'm going to run and tell Moe!" she yelled and ran out of the store.

We both slowed down then, because Moe was a short blustery guy, and no one was afraid of him. We thought it was kind of funny.