Copyright 1996(c)

                     RUBY DOES THE BAD NEWS
                   A Ruby D. Begonia Adventure

     "I am extremely concerned about the state of the union," said
Ruby.
     "Then there must be money to be made," said Del.
     "What a thing to say," said an offended Ruby. "Don'cha think
I'm aware and involved?"
     "Unhappily, yes," said Del.
     "Okay, I say let's get something going. Bill's got too much
time on his hands," said Ruby.
     "Bill?"
     "Sweet William, the Prez, the big sticker," Ruby explained.
     "And you think this because?" asked Del.
     "Because the gov-mint is thinking on gettin' involved against
them states what voted for legal marijuana use," said Ruby.
"Obviously, somebody ain't keeping Bill on top of things, as
usual."
     "What is it that you think requires his attention, Ruby?"
asked Del. "Do you think the relief effort in Rwanda should be
stepped up? Do you believe that social security/welfare reform
program ought to get more attention? No, wait--knowing you, I bet
it's a financial concern. Are you worried about the deficit?"
     "Nah," said Ruby. "Bill ain't got to go out of the country.
There's a plenty of stuff right here to worry about, and that
marijuana thing is the least of it. Bill oughta be concentrating
on something he can do something about. For instance, do you know
there's a big push on to quash drive-in restaurants? Now there's
an issue he can get his teeth into," said Ruby.
     "I see it now," said Del. "'Save our neighborhood Taco Bell'
t-shirts, right?"
     "How'd you guess?" asked Ruby.
     "Experience," said Del. "How much?"
     "For the t-shirt or the baseball cap?" asked Ruby.

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