A 25-Cent Walk

Tine and Rubob went for a very short afternoon walk today, because it was late and it was cold. They decided to mosey on up to the estate of 50 Cent, a personable young singer who lives just outside the village.

"50 Cent has an album called 'Get Rich or Die Tryin,' " Tine said. (She knew because Whiny was quite fond of rap music.) "Fifty cents doesn't seem like much. He must just be starting out. It's not easy for musicians," Tine said, putting on her mittens in the vehicle. "In any case, a 50-cent walk might be just the thing, what with our finances in disarray," she added.

"But walks are free," Rubob said. "That's one reason why people enjoy them so much."

"I saw an ad today for a sale on falling snow," Tine said -- "a seasonal sale, as it were." "If they're going to start charging for falling snow, it won't be long before they start charging for walks. We'd better start with an affordable, 50-cent walk."

"But it's not snowing, Tine," Rubob said.

"Just to be safe," Tine said.

The two passed a rather splendid house at the start of their walk.



"I don't think we're in the village anymore," Tine said very quietly, marveling at the house. "That couldn't be 50 Cent's house because this house would cost much more than that. "

"He lives across the street, Tine," Rubob said.

Tine turned around and saw a trailer parked behind a dark-screened fence. "Yes, that looks modest enough," she said. "It looks very pleasant, don't you think? A musician could be very comfortable living there."



"That's just the guardhouse, Tine," Rubob said, but Tine, who was very cold, had hastened on, continuing under her misapprehension (as she is inclined to do).

It was not only very cold, but very late, and Tine said it even felt like it might start to snow before long.

"There's a 50 percent chance of snow for Wednesday, 30 percent for Thursday, and 20 percent for Friday," Rubob said. "That adds up to 100 percent, come to think."

"If there's a 100 percent chance of snow, we'd better be getting back," Tine said, "even if falling snow is on sale this week. "

"But that's next week's forecast, Tine. No snow is expected tonight," Rubob said.

"Just to be on the safe side, I think we should make it a 50 percent walk," Tine said. "It's not only a 50-cent walk, but a 50 percent walk -- or maybe since it's a 50 percent walk, it's just a 25-cent walk."

Rubob stopped to admire another house set well back from the road.



"That's a beautiful house, Tine," Rubob said.

"But it's yellow, Rubob. I thought you didn't like yellow houses," Tine said.

"And especially not yellow brick houses, Tine," Rubob said, "and that house is brick. But it is nice, isn't it, Tine?"

"Like a yellow brick road," Tine thought, hurrying along. She was eager not to exceed the allowed distance for a 50-percent, 25-cent walk, and she was feeling the cold even more as the sun began to set.



Rubob pointed out another house tucked back behind a foreground of snow and said, "The snow seems to put more distance between us and the houses. They're more imposing, even forbidding."

"Forbidding, Rubob?" Tine asked.

"They seem cold somehow," Rubob said.

"50 Cent's trailer home seems less cold," Tine said -- "maybe because it's closer to the road and there's a screen protecting it from the wind and snow."

As they concluded their walk, Tine stopped to look at a little treehouse in the darkening woods.



"Yes, that's quite nice," she said, more to herself than to Rubob. "I could be quite content there. And Rubob likes trees. I'm sure even Charles II would like it there. It's not the Royal Oak, but it looks very cozy."

Tine and Rubob's walk was just a 25-cent walk today, but "all in all it was a very pleasant walk," Tine thought.