Rumpelstiltskin had reformed. With plenty

Rumpelstiltskin had reformed. With plenty of therapy, he no longer craved gold and other people's children. He was now married to one of the seven dwarves' sister, and they lived

in a modest semi-detached property in the suburbs of Hampshire. After a brief fling with a woman next door who looked suspiciously like Snow White, his life was about to get worse

because she had the clap. He had no medical insurance so he had to see Uncle Sid. Sid was a Vietnam Vet who'd gotten everything a crotch could while in Siagon. Sid had no legs and

a horrible boil in his back, but he knew a thing or two about the clap... In fact Sid professed to knowing a lot about a lot of other things, but this remained to be seen.

I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to throw out Plato's theory of eidos. "What can you touch with your hand? Is it real? Can you clap with only one hand?" He guffawed and

and then asked me what any of that had to do with Botany. I had no idea and figured it was probably time for me to lay off the gin & tonics. Maybe if I

switched to Irish Whiskey, the whole thing would be clearer. "You got any?" I asked. He shook his head. "Now, about that

might have wrestled a tiger in the Congo for it. Maybe." That elephant sure was wily. I had no idea what to believe anymore. What did my mother see in this guy? How would he save

$ by clipping coupons? They're never for items that you really need. But creature comforts were no longer a concern. The bright light had come, and her spirit left them. [fade]