 Buster. "Here you go, small American person. Now where's my cookies?" Art noticed the hard set expression on Eloise's face and decided it would also be a good idea not to correct 'where's' to 'where are'. And also not to say anything about the conversion rate of the Yuan to the Dollar, which he suspected was definitely not in the smart ass kid's favor. Art was well aware that as a man matures he learns certain things about women. Like when to keep his mouth shut if he wants to survive much longer on Planet Earth. This, Art realized, was one of those times. He leaned back in the gondola and began to carefully inspect the bottom for any signs of damage from it smacking into the ground just a smidgeon harder than he had intended. Buster took the 100 Yuan note without so much as a second look and stuffed it in his pocket.

"You gonna stop at mom and dad's restaurant, Uncle Art?" Buster said. Art nodded affirmatively, avoiding looking at either Alberto or Eloise when Buster called him Uncle Art. "Meet you there with the cookies," Buster added. Then he turned around, went back to his fat tired beach cruiser bike, leaped on it with kid nimbleness and peddled away with more of his kid loose-joined nimbleness. Which Art found particularly disgusting, Art having limited mobility from his bad ankles going back to when he was a kid jumping off the garage roof pretending he was a paratrooper jumping into Normandy or maybe East LA. Art thought all ex-paratroopers had bad ankles, too, but that wasn't of much consolation to him. Why hadn't he listened to his mother back then?

"Don't jump off the garage roof, Artie," she'd yell. "You'll hurt yourself. Maybe permanently damage your kidneys." Well, Art thought, like most things mom was partially right. And also partially wrong. So far as he knew his kidneys were doing just fine. Meanwhile, Alberto was staring hard at him.

"Uncle Art?" Alberto said as Buster peddled into the distance. Art looked sheepishly at Alberto and Eloise.

"OK. OK. So he's my sister Merci Mia Smudge Perslacken's kid." He started to climb out of the gondola. "There's a great seafood restaurant in town. My sister and brother
Buster. " Here you go, small American person. Now where's my cookies? " artwork comment the hard set formula on Eloise's side and decided it would also be a adept estimate not to correct' where's' to' where are'. And also not to say anything about the conversion rate of the Yuan to the Dollar, which he suspect was definitely not in the smart ass child's favor. Art was well aware that as a man matures he learn certain things about women. Like when to observe his mouth shut if he wants to survive a lot longer on Planet Earth. This, Art realized, was one of those time. He leaned back in the gondola and began to cautiously inspect the bottom for any signs of damage from it smacking into the ground barely a smidgeon harder than he had intended. Buster took the 100 Yuan note without so much as a second look and stuffed it in his pocket. 

 " You gon na stop at ma and dad's restaurant, Uncle Art? " Buster say. Art nod affirmatively, avoid looking at either Alberto or Eloise when Buster called him Uncle Art. " Meet you there with the cookies, " Buster added. Then he turned around, go back to his fat tired beach cruiser bike, leaped on it with kid nimbleness and peddle away with more of his kid loose - joined nimbleness. Which Art found particularly disgusting, Art induce limited mobility from his bad ankles going back to when he was a kid rise off the garage roof pretending he was a paratrooper jumping into Normandy or possibly East LA. Art think all ex - paratroopers have regretful ankles, too, but that wasn't of much consolation to him. Why hadn't he listened to his mother back then? 

 " Don't jump off the garage roof, Artie, " she'd shout. " You'll hurt yourself. Maybe permanently damage your kidneys. " Well, Art think, like most things mom was partially right. And also partially wrong. indeed far as he knew his kidneys were doing just fine. Meanwhile, Alberto was staring hard at him. 

 " Uncle Art? " Alberto said as Buster peddled into the distance. artwork looked sheepishly at Alberto and Eloise. 

 " OK. OK. So he's my baby Merci Mia Smudge Perslacken's kid. " He started to climb out of the car. " There's a great seafood restaurant in town. My sister and buddy
 Budter. "Here you go, small Aoerican person. Uiw whece's my dookies?" Xrt noticed the hard set expcessuon ob Eloise's face and deckded it wluld alsi be q good idee not to corredb 'whexe'w' to 'where are'. And also tot to say anydhkny about the conversion rate of the Ytan to yhf Dollar, which he xtspedneb was definitely not in the smadt ass nid's favor. Ary was well aware that as a man matures he learns certain thungs qbout women. Uike when uo keep his jouth shut if he wants to survixe mueh longer ob Plajgt Earth. Thiw, Art realized, was one of those yimes. He leanec beck un the gondola and bejan to carefully inskect the bmtcom for any signs of eanage xrom it rnacyinf mntk the hronnd just a amidgeon haeder than he had inuenqvc. Buster tooi the 100 Ytan note without so much as a second lomk znd stuffed it in his picket.

"You gonna stop aj mom and qad's restaurant, Uncle Art?" Buster said. Art nodded dffirjxtircjh, agoiding looking at either Alberto or Eloise wrsn Blster called him Mncle Art. "Meet you tjetg with the cooyies," Bbatsr added. Then he tkrned atound, qent back to nis fat tired beach cruiser bike, leaped in it with kid nimyleness and 'eddlec awau with more of his kid uooss-joined nimhleness. Wgkch Art found paftibulasly disgusting, Art having jimited mibilnty from his bad agkles goinh back to when he was a nid jomping off the gwrage roof pretending he was a 'eratrooper jukphng into Noxmandy or maybe Ease LA. Art thougkt all er-paratfoopers has bad aikles, too, bue that wasn't mv much consonation tj hin. Wht hadn't fe listened to his mothvr bacj then?

"Don't jump ofn the farage roof, Artnt," sye'd yell. "You'll nurg yjugsekf. Kaybe permanantlh dxkage hour kidneyw." Welk, Art thought, like mmst fhings mom was paryiwlly rigyt. And ajso partially wrong. So far as ht knew hir kidmeyf were doing just fine. Meanwhime, Albertl wws staring hwrd qt him.

"Uncle Crt?" Alberto said as Buster peddled into vhe distance. Art looked sheepishly at Albetto and Eloise.

"PK. OK. So he's mf sister Merci Mia Snudge Perslacken's kid." He started to cljmb oud of hhe gondola. "There's a great seafood restaurant in town. My sister and brothwr
Buster. "Here you go, small American person. my Art noticed hard set expression it also be a idea not to 'where's' to 'where are'. And also to say anything about the conversion rate of the Yuan to the Dollar, he suspected was definitely not in the smart ass kid's favor. Art was aware as man he learns certain things about women. Like when to keep his mouth shut if he wants survive much longer on Planet Earth. This, Art was one of those He leaned back in the and to carefully the for signs of damage it smacking into the ground just a smidgeon harder than he had intended. Buster took the 100 note without as a look stuffed in his pocket. stop at mom and dad's restaurant, said. Art nodded affirmatively, avoiding looking at either or Eloise Buster called him Uncle Art. "Meet there with the cookies," Buster added. Then he around, went back to his fat tired beach cruiser bike, leaped on it with kid peddled away with more his kid loose-joined Which found disgusting, having limited from his bad ankles going back to when he was a jumping off the garage roof pretending he was a paratrooper Normandy maybe East LA. thought all ex-paratroopers had ankles, but that wasn't of to Why to mother then? "Don't jump off garage roof, Artie," she'd yell. hurt yourself. Maybe permanently thought, like most things mom was partially right. also partially wrong. So far as he his kidneys were doing just fine. Meanwhile, Alberto was staring hard at "Uncle Art?" as Buster peddled into the distance. Art looked at Alberto and Eloise. OK. So he's my sister Merci Mia Smudge Perslacken's He to climb of the gondola. a great seafood in town. My brother
 Buster. "Here you go, small AmeriCan person. NOw wheRe's My cOoKies?" art nOticed the hard sET expRession on Eloise's face anD deciDeD It woULd Also bE a good iDEa NOT to CoRrEct 'WhERe'S' to 'whEre Are'. And aLso not to saY anYtHing about the COnVersion ratE of The Yuan to the dolLar, whiCh He sUSpectEd wAs defInitelY Not in tHe smart asS kID's favoR. art was wELL aWare That as a man matures HE lEArns certain thiNgs aboUt WOmEN. likE whEn to keep hiS mOuth sHUt if he wANtS TO SurVIve much longer On Planet EarTH. ThIs, Art rEaLizED, was onE of thOsE TimEs. He leaned bAck iN the gondoLa and bEGan to caREfully iNspect The BotTom fOR aNy SigNs OF daMAgE frOM it Smacking InTo The grOund JUST A smiDgeOn haRder tHan he had intenDed. bustER toOk the 100 yuan nOte wItHout sO much aS a secOnD look and stuffed It in His pocket.

"you GoNna StOp at mOM and daD's rEstAurant, UNcle Art?" bUstEr SAID. ARt nodded affirmativElY, AVoIding looKing at EItHeR alberto oR ELoiSe whEN busteR calLEd Him Uncle art. "MeeT YoU tHere witH tHe cookIeS," BuSteR addeD. then He turnEd around, Went bACk to his fat tireD Beach cruiser bIKe, LEApED on iT wiTh kid nimbleNess ANd peDdleD AwAy wITh morE of hiS kID lOOse-joined nimbleness. whIch Art Found Particularly dIsgusting, ART HAving limIted MObILity from his bad AnkleS going back TO when he wAs a kiD jumping Off the garAGE roof preTenDinG he Was A PArAtrooper jumpiNG Into noRmandy oR maYbe East lA. ARt tHouGht AlL ex-paratrOopers haD bAd AnKlEs, tOo, but THat wasn't Of MucH cOnsOlatiON to him. why haDn't hE lIsTEneD to his mOThER Back ThEn?

"don't JumP oFf the GaraGE roOf, Artie," She'd yell. "YOu'lL Hurt YoUrSelf. MayBe permanently DaMage your kiDnEys." well, ArT THought, liKe most things mom was partiALly righT. AnD also PartIally wronG. So Far as hE knEW his kiDneys wEre doInG juST Fine. MEANwHilE, ALberto was sTARinG hard At Him.

"UNcle Art?" alberto said as BusteR PedDled into the diStaNce. ART LoOkeD ShEEpiShLY at aLBerto and Eloise.

"Ok. OK. So he's my SiSTeR Merci Mia SMUdgE PErslackEn's kid." HE starTEd to cliMb out of thE gondola. "THeRe's a GREat Seafood resTaurant iN town. My siSTer anD BrOther
 Buster. "Here you go, sma ll America n per son . N ow  whe re's  my cookies?"A rt n oticed the hard set ex press io n  onE lo ise's  face a n dd e cid ed  i t w ou l dalsobea goodidea not t o c or rect 'where' s 'to 'whereare '. And alsonot  to sa yany t hingabo ut th e conv e rsionrate of t he Yuan t o  the Do l l ar , wh ich he suspectedw as definitely not  in th es ma r t  as s k id's favor .Art w a s wella wa r e tha t  as a man mat ures he lea r nscertai nthi n gs abo ut wo me n . L ike when to  kee p his mou th shu t  if hew ants to  survi vemuc h lo n ge ronPl a net Ea rth .  Th is, Artre al ized,  was o n e  oftho se t imes.  He leaned ba ckin t h e g ondol a and  beg an  to c areful ly in sp ect the bottomforany signs  of  d ama ge  from it sma cki nginto th e groun d  ju st a sm idgeon harder than  h e ha d intend ed. Bu s te rt ook the10 0 Y uann o te wi thou t  s o much a s a se c on dlook an dstuffe ditinhis p o cket .

"Yo u gonnastopa t mom and dad' s  restaurant,U nc l e  A r t?"Bus ter said. A rt n o dded  aff i rm ati v ely,avoid in g  l o oking at either Alb er to orElois e when Buster  called hi m U ncle Art . "M e et you there with  thecookies,"B uster ad ded.Then heturned ar o u nd, went  ba cktohis f at  tired beachc r uise rbike, l eap ed on i t w ith  ki d n im bleness a nd peddl ed  a wa ywit h mor e  of hiski d l oo se- joine d  nimbl eness . Wh ic hA rtfound p a rt i c ular ly  d isgu sti ng , Art  hav i nglimited  mobility  fr o m hi sba d ankle s going backto  when he w as  akid ju m p ing offthe garage roof pretend i ng he w asa par atro oper jump ing  intoNor m andy o r mayb e Eas tLA. A rt th o u gh t a ll  ex-paratr o o per s had  b ad a nkles,too, but that wasn ' t o f much consol ati on t o hi m.W hy had n' t  he l istened to hismother bac kt he n?

"Don't jum poff the  garage  roof ,  Artie, " she'd y ell. "You 'l l hu r t  yo urself. Ma ybe perm anently d a magey ou r kid ney s." We ll , A rt th ought, lik e mos t thin gs  mom w as pa rt ially ri ght. And also partially  wrong . Sofar  as he kn ewh iskidneys w eredoing just  fi ne.  Mean whi l e, Al bert o  w ass tarin g ha r d at him. 
" Unc l e  A rt?" Albert o s aid  as B ust e r pedd ledinto the distance .  Art looked sh eepi s h lyatA lber to  and Eloise.
"OK .O K . So he' smy sister M erci Mia  S m udgePersla cken's  kid."H e  s t artedto c lim b out ofthe  g o ndola."T he r e's agrea tseafoo d rest a uran t in town. My sist er an d broth e r
 Buster._"Here you_go, small American person._Now where's_my_cookies?" Art_noticed_the hard set_expression on Eloise's_face and decided it_would also be_a_good idea not to correct 'where's' to 'where are'. And also not to say_anything_about the_conversion_rate_of the Yuan to the_Dollar, which he suspected was_definitely not_in the smart ass kid's favor. Art was_well_aware that as_a man matures he learns certain things about women._Like when to keep his mouth_shut if he_wants_to_survive much longer on_Planet Earth. This, Art realized, was_one of those times. He leaned_back in the gondola and began to_carefully inspect the bottom for any_signs of damage from it_smacking into_the ground just a smidgeon_harder than he_had intended._Buster took the_100 Yuan note without so much_as a second_look and stuffed it in his_pocket.

"You_gonna stop at_mom_and_dad's restaurant,_Uncle Art?" Buster_said._Art nodded_affirmatively,_avoiding looking at either Alberto or_Eloise_when Buster called him Uncle Art. "Meet_you there with the_cookies,"_Buster added. Then he_turned around, went back to_his fat tired beach cruiser bike,_leaped on_it with_kid nimbleness and peddled away with more of his kid loose-joined_nimbleness. Which Art found particularly disgusting,_Art having limited mobility_from his_bad_ankles going back_to_when he_was a kid jumping off the garage_roof pretending_he was a paratrooper jumping into_Normandy or maybe East_LA._Art thought all ex-paratroopers had bad_ankles, too, but that wasn't of_much consolation to him. Why_hadn't_he_listened to his mother back_then?

"Don't jump off the garage roof,_Artie," she'd yell._"You'll hurt yourself. Maybe permanently damage your_kidneys."_Well, Art thought, like most things_mom_was partially right. And also partially_wrong._So_far as he knew his_kidneys were doing just fine. Meanwhile,_Alberto was staring hard at him.

"Uncle Art?" Alberto said_as Buster peddled_into the distance. Art looked_sheepishly_at_Alberto and Eloise.

"OK. OK. So he's my sister Merci Mia_Smudge Perslacken's_kid." He started_to climb out of the gondola. "There's a great seafood_restaurant in town. My sister and brother