Read Online Shmucks by Seymour Blicker - Free Book Online

got a cigarette?”
    â€œNo, this is my last one,” Pelzic replied.
    The girl nodded her head slowly in what Pelzic sensed was a scornful manner.
    Pelzic felt himself sink slightly in his seat.

CHAPTER 5
    WHEN LEVIN SAW THE GIRL get into the taxi, he began to burn up with envy and rage. He figured that the taxi driver had probably used his radio and had the dispatcher call his girlfriend down to keep him company.
    Damn it, he thought, he should have had the car phone installed like he had once planned to do. At the time, when he had debated the pros and cons of a car phone, he had decided against it because of the cost–fifty dollars a month. But for a situation such as he now found himself in, it would have been well worth it. He could have called any of his friends. He could have ordered up food now if he wanted to.
    He was beginning to get really hungry. He cursed, thinking about the girl in the taxi. Well, at least he would repay the driver for his headlight gambit.
    Levin started his motor and switched on his brights. Now the taxi shmuck would have a little taste of his own medicine.
    He put a James Brown stereo tape into the deck below the dashboard, leaned back and waited to see how the taxi driver would react to the extra candle power.

CHAPTER 6
    PELZIC EYED THE GIRL’S FIRM YOUNG BODY. How he would love to fondle it. It had been such a long time since he had seen anything so attractive. His wife was a well-built woman but she had begun to sag in places years ago. His girlfriend was nothing to scoff at either, but she too lacked the naive innocence that so attracted him now. He had always been drawn to childlike women but they never seemed to go for him.
    He could feel the blood coursing through his body. He didn’t want her to get out of the car.
    â€œSo you don’t even have one lousy cigarette,” the girl suddenly said.
    â€œNo, this is my last one. You can have a puff if you should like to.” The girl cocked her head as though debating if it was safe to put her lips on the cigarette after it had been in Pelzic’s mouth.
    â€œOkay, yeah, lemme have a drag.”
    Pelzic held the cigarette so that the girl could drag on it. Just as she inhaled, the interior of the car was illuminated as Levin put on his headlights. The girl winced as she stared into the powerful beams.
    â€œWho’s that? What does he want?”
    â€œHim? He’s a fool. He’s crazy.”
    â€œWhy doesn’t he shut his lights?”
    â€œI dun know. He’s been there all night.”
    â€œWhat are you doing here? Do you run the hookers from up there?” The girl pointed at the building to their left.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Pelzic asked. “What hookers?”
    â€œYou know, the high-class hookers from that building. They ship ’em out all over the city. Whatever your taste is, they ship it out. If you want a 12-year-old girl, they’ll get her for you.”
    â€œNo, I don’t do that. I didn’t know they had that kind of organization in that building. I’m just waiting for that crazy guy to move.”
    â€œWhy don’t you just back up and leave?”
    â€œHe’s not going to impose his will on me,” Pelzic said defiantly. “I had enough from the nazis and the communists in Romania. That nazi is not going to do the same,” he said, pointing into the light coming from the other car.
    The girl stared at him. “Well look, are you gonna give me anything? I gotta go. Those lights are freakin me out.”
    Pelzic felt a slight panic. He didn’t know what to do. He wanted the girl to stay. He wanted something from her, he didn’t know what exactly. He didn’t wish to give her any money. If he gave her some change, she’d be gone and most likely laughing at him as she went. He couldn’t reach her. He knew his personality and appearance and speech weren’t attractive to her. He had to make a quick