Ubik & 55th: The kids were still screaming. Lawrence didn’t know if these screams were regular screams or screams of fear caused by Marvin breaking one of the seats. He couldn’t see anyone crying in the bubble rearview. The last of the kids scampered on. Marvin was distracted. Good. Lawrence pulled away.
Lawrence drove for ten seconds. He heard nothing from Marvin. Another ten, still nothing. Maybe he found a friend. Then Lawrence jumped. Marvin’s nose was in his ear. He was trying to whisper something to Lawrence Fountaingale.
“For God's sake, sit down!”
“I was trying to tell you something,” Marvin said.
“What!”
Marvin sat down.
“Isn’t she perfect?” he said quietly.
“What?”
“Isn’t she perfect?”
“Who?”
“Ruby.”
“Who is Ruby?”
“The one in the yellow dress. In the ... seventh row.”
Lawrence looked in the rearview and saw a young girl in a yellow dress. Marvin was watching Lawrence watch Ruby. Lawrence looked at Marvin in the bubble rearview. Marvin pumped his eyebrows at him.
“Isn’t she?”
“Don’t ask me questions like that, Marvin.”
“Why not?”
“Because.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve had a twenty-two year unblemished record. I don’t want to start now.”
“What?”
“Yes, Marvin. She’s perfect.”
“You like her?”
“What? No!”
“But you just said—”
“No Marvin, you like her! That’s why I said ... oh, why don’t you go talk to her? Go talk to Ruby.”