But in the version of Earth that they had

But in the version of Earth that they had just slid to, Microsoft and Apple had both failed miserably. The resulting vacuum had been filled by Timex-Sinclair, and, now T/S 10000s

dominated New Earth's economy. Luckily, I had a great stockbroker who'd had enough foresight to invest in Timex-Sinclair right before they boomed, which meant I was rich beyond

Bill Gates's wife's imagination. With this money I could finally indulge the fantasy that has kept me going, through the loss of my elbow and two bouts with cancer. This fantasy

is that my toes are mice and my fluffy friends. Melissa Gates hates rodents so I blagged that the money was for a new bakelite elbow. "Why are your shoes squeaking so much?" she

asked. I shrugged. Meanwhile my toe-mice kept squeaking. Once Ms. Gates looked away, I surreptitiously slid thin slices of Gruyère into the heels of my shoes, hoping to soothe them

They found the drunken goat cheese really tasty, as well as Limberger. My grandfather would have been quite pleased. My grandmother would have been mortified to know that stinky

Limberger was now hanging out with wine-swilling French soft cheeses. Some cheeses get stronger with age but Limberger was

only becoming softer and runnier, which along with his stench only seemed to impress the French cheeses all the more. How I hated him! When the green fuzz sprouted on Limberger's

patina I knew my worse fears had come true. I would have to leave my old cheese shop and wander the cheese maker's Path once again to find My Whey. If I stayed I would curdle.