The Horse is Dead Read Online Free PDF Page A

never been sick from drinking before in his life. And he was as surprised as Lynn was when he threw up on her. She tried to duck under the table to get out of his way, but he caught the back of her dress before she made it under the table. Nemiroff gave one last violent heave as the bartender arrived with the next round. "I don't think I'll be needing it, thank you," he said just before his head smashed into the table.
    When he awoke, Lynn was gone. Nemiroff looked around for the bartender. He found him. "Do you think I blew it?" Nemiroff asked. There was no answer.
    Several months after the incident Nemiroff was still heartbroken. He couldn't sleep at nights. He continually dreamed of Lynn cuffing him in the movies while she munched on the popcorn. It was too much. It was driving him mad. Of all the times to pick to throw up.
     
    Nemiroff was not easily put off. He called Lynn ten times a day. He begged her for a date. He told her he would hold his breath and turn blue if she didn't go out with him, but she still wouldn't go. Finally, in desperation, Nemiroff told her that he was going to tell people he went out with her anyway. Horrified, Lynn made a date with Nemiroff on the condition that he would never tell anyone about it.
     
    Nemiroff drove to Lynn's house and parked the car. He was surprised to see her come running out of the house before he had a chance to get out of the car. He opened the door for her. "You must really like me after all," he said. "Can't wait to get going, huh?"
    "I didn't want my parents to see you," she stated.
    "Oh." He started up the car. "Where would you like to go?"
    "I don't care." She was looking out the window.
    "A movie." Nemiroff spit the words from his mouth.
    "Yeah, O.K.," she said.
    Nemiroff's mind ran through the dream one more rime. Lynn was barely down in her seat when Nemiroff, panting, turned to ask her the most important question of the night. "Would you like some popcorn?"
    "Yes, thank you."
    Oh joy, oh joy. Nemiroff's heart raced wildly. The movie. The popcorn. Everything would be just like the dream. He tripped all over himself hurrying out to get the popcorn. Nemiroff ran over to the candy counter. "Give me a box of popcorn," he ordered, "a big one."
    The woman behind the counter looked at him. He must really love popcorn, she thought, look at the way he's drooling. She almost hated to tell him. "I'm sorry, but we don't have any more popcorn."
    Nemiroff almost jumped down her throat. "What do you mean you don't have any more popcorn?"
    "I'm sorry, but I just sold the last box." She pointed to a little boy walking away. "Would you like some bonbons?"
    Nemiroff thought for a fraction of a second. No. Bonbons wouldn't do. He raced after the little boy and caught him by the arm. "Kid, give me the box of popcorn." He was trying to grab it away.
    "No, get away from me or I'll tell my father."
    Nemiroff reached into his pocket. "Here, I'll give you a dollar for it" He held out the dollar to the little boy.
    "Boy, you must really love popcorn." He looked at the outstretched hand. "Make it two bucks and you've got a deal."
    Nemiroff raised his hand to smack the boy, then pushed it back into his pocket and pulled out another dollar. "Here, you fucking thief," he said, grabbed the box of popcorn and raced back upstairs to Lynn.
    "I'm sorry I was gone so long," he apologized.
    "Were you?" Lynn said.
    Nemiroff let it go by. He settled down to enjoy the movie.
    Nemiroff didn't want to seem too anxious, so he waited for what he thought was a reasonable length of time before putting his arm around Lynn. She tried to get away but he was prepared for this and held on tightly to her shoulder. After a few minutes Lynn gave up on trying to escape and settled back in her chair. Nemiroff was beginning to feel good inside when he noticed with some alarm that Lynn had finished the box of popcorn. What a slob, Nemiroff told himself.
    "Would you like some more popcorn?" he asked. He could always find