“I don’t want to go around paying bills with you,” I told Sherry. “Drop me off at Celi’s Deli and I’ll meet you on the deck of the Holiday Hotel when you get back.”
As I enjoyed my coffee and the view of the reef I peacefully read my book.
“Mr. Dennis! Mr. Dennis!”
I looked up to see Marvin trotting up the beach towards me.
“Have a seat, Marvin,” I said, after he made his way up on the deck.
“You are just the man I wanted to see,” he said.
“Marvin, are you drunk?” I asked.
“Why you ask that?”
“Well, for one thing, you look like you haven’t slept for awhile. You appear to have been rolling around in the sand. You even have sand in your hair and ears plus your eyes are red and your hands are shaking.”
“Well, I have been drinking a little bit,” he admitted.
“How much is a little bit?”
“Three days,” he said. “I spent all my money on rum and now I’m starving to death. I need you to loan me ten dollars.”
“I guess I can do that,” I said, getting out my wallet to kiss ten dollars goodbye.
“Oh, thank you, Mr. Dennis. Thank you,” he said. “You a good man.”
He pocketed the money and turned to leave.
I said, “Marvin, before you go let me tell you something.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m worried that you might still be thirsty. The first thing I want you to do is go out and buy some food.”
Marvin drew himself up to his full height and said angrily, “Mr. Dennis, you got no right to tell me how to spend my money.”
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