 on her I'm not a woman face. "Now can I search him?"

"Hey! Strip down and prove it to us," Pancho said, Pancho being a man who rarely missed any kind of opportunity to ogle the pulchritudinous marvels of the female species. "Put up or shut up, Melissa. Or, Melvin, whichever the case may be. Enquiring minds need to know." There was an undercurrent of a universal murmuring agreement, even including Mr. Fleshmound, to Pancho's really great idea. Right! Yeah! Prove it!

"Come on, Melissa," Tony said in a tired voice. "You know I can't let you search him."

"Would you believe transsexual?" She said. "Or how about transgender? That work?"

"Melissa," Tony repeated. "Please. You know better." She shrugged. But she had one more try in her.

"How about a sizeable bribe? Season tickets to the Diamondbacks or the Cardinals? That do it for you?" Tony shook his big, somewhat shaggy head, him being badly in need of a haircut, his regular barber being temporarily incarcerated over a misunderstanding concerning unpaid child support, in an emphatic no! Bribe? Tony Rivera? The pride of the entire southwestern Rivera clan on both sides of the border? (Not counting his second cousin Rigoberto, who was a hero in the town of Cananea as the local more or less Robin Hood style drug lord.) Not even in the realm of possibility. Not even in the universe of possibility. And sure not for some crummy season tickets. But, had Melissa offered a ticket on the Food Channel's Gourmet Cruise to the Caribbean, Tony would have had to think hard on it. But she didn't. And a good thing she didn't. Tony's supervisory integrity might have gone down the Gourmet Cruise tubes.

"OK. OK," she said, giving up. "But can I at least cheer from the sidelines? And maybe offer a suggestion or two?"

Melissa!" Tony said in a not so gentle tone. "Enough already."

"Enough already is also poor English," Mr. Fleshmound spit out. Before he could say anything more Tony shook him again, reminding Elvis of his Blue Tick Hound, Simon Don't, shaking
on her I'm not a woman face. " Now can I search him? " 

 " Hey! Strip down and rise it to us, " Pancho say, Pancho being a man who rarely missed any kind of opportunity to ogle the pulchritudinous marvels of the female coinage. " Put up or shut up, Melissa. Or, Melvin, whichever the case may be. ask minds need to acknowledge. " There was an undercurrent of a cosmopolitan murmuring agreement, even including Mr. Fleshmound, to Pancho's really great theme. Right! Yeah! Prove it! 

 " Come on, Melissa, " Tony said in a tired voice. " You acknowledge I can't let you search him. " 

 " Would you believe transsexual? " She read. " Or how about transgender? That work? " 

 " Melissa, " Tony repeated. " Please. You know better. " She shrug. But she had one more hear in her. 

 " How about a sizeable bribe? Season tickets to the Diamondbacks or the Cardinals? That do it for you? " Tony shake his big, somewhat shaggy head, him being badly in motivation of a haircut, his regular barber being temporarily incarcerated over a misunderstanding concerning unpaid child support, in an emphatic no! Bribe? Tony Rivera? The pride of the entire southwestern Rivera clan on both side of the border? (Not counting his second cousin Rigoberto, who was a bomber in the township of Cananea as the local more or less Robin Hood vogue drug lord .) Not even in the realm of possibility. Not even in the universe of possibility. And sure not for some crummy season tickets. But, had Melissa offered a tag on the Food Channel's Gourmet Cruise to the Caribbean, Tony would have had to think hard on it. But she didn't. And a good thing she don't. Tony's supervisory integrity might have gone down the Gourmet Cruise tubes. 

 " OK. OK, " she said, giving up. " But can I at least cheer from the sidelines? And possibly extend a suggestion or two? " 

 Melissa! " Tony said in a not so gentle tonicity. " Enough already. " 

 " Enough already is also poor English, " Mr. Fleshmound spit out. Before he could say anything more Tony shook him again, reminding Elvis of his Blue Tick Hound, Simon Don't, shaking
 on her I'm not a woman face. "Now can I searey him?"

"Hxy! Stril down avd prove it to us," Pancho saiv, Pabcho veing a man who rarely missed ajy kind if okportunity to oglx the pulchrithfinobs marvels of thg female spewies. "Put up or sfuc up, Melissa. Or, Melvin, whichever the case msy be. Enquiring iindx nees to know." There was an undercurrenf of a lniversal murmurimg agreement, even includinh Mr. Fleshmound, to Panfho's really grewr idea. Right! Yeah! Provt nt!

"Come on, Mglissa," Tony said in a tired voicd. "You know I cab't leh you search him."

"Wjuld you bellvve tratssexuak?" She said. "Or mow auout transgender? That worn?"

"Melissa," Tony repewted. "Pleave. You know better." Whw shrogged. But whe has pns more trb in her.

"How about a sizeable bribe? Season tyblets to the Siamonqbwcks or the Cardinals? That do it for yol?" Tohy shook his big, somewhqt shaggy head, him belng badly in need of a haircut, his regular barber being tekporaciuy nkgarcdeahed over a misunderstanding concerning unpaid dholc support, in ak emphatic no! Bribr? Homi Rivera? The ptide of ths entire southwestfrn Rivgra clqn on botr sices of the border? (Not countung his secoud xousin Rigoberto, wko was a heru in the yown of Cananea as the uocam more or lfss Robin Food style drug uorc.) Tot even in the realm of pjssibilitb. Not even iv thg univewse of posdibilldy. And sure not fog somg crumky season hickets. But, had Melissa offered a ticket on tne Fomd Channzl's Gomrmet Cruise to the Caribbean, Tony wjuld fave had tk think hard on it. But she didn'd. And a good vhing she didb't. Tiny's suodrvisory integtity mighn kave gone down the Gourmet Gruisg fubes.

"OK. OK," she waie, giving up. "But cav I an lxast sveer from tha siaelkmes? Avd maybt onfef a xuggestion or two?"

Melhssa!" Tony said in a noy fo gentlg tone. "Enjugh already."

"Emough already is apso pmor Englosh," Mr. Fleshmound spit out. Before he could san anything mowe Tiny shook hik again, reminding Elvis of his Blue Ticj Hound, Simon Don'j, shaking
on her I'm not a woman face. I him?" "Hey! down and prove Pancho a man who missed any kind opportunity to ogle the pulchritudinous marvels the female species. "Put up or shut up, Melissa. Or, Melvin, whichever the may be. Enquiring minds need to know." There was an undercurrent of a murmuring even Mr. to Pancho's really great idea. Right! Yeah! Prove it! "Come on, Melissa," Tony said in a voice. "You know I can't let you search "Would you believe transsexual?" said. "Or how about transgender? work?" Tony repeated. You better." shrugged. But she one more try in her. "How about a sizeable bribe? Season tickets to the Diamondbacks or the That do you?" Tony his somewhat head, him being need of a haircut, his regular incarcerated over a misunderstanding concerning unpaid child support, an emphatic Bribe? Tony Rivera? The pride of entire southwestern Rivera clan on both sides of border? (Not counting his second cousin Rigoberto, who was a hero in the town of the local more or Robin Hood style lord.) even the of possibility. even in the universe of possibility. And sure not for some season tickets. But, had Melissa offered a ticket on the Gourmet to the Caribbean, would have had to hard it. But she didn't. good she integrity have down the Gourmet Cruise "OK. OK," she said, giving "But can I at And maybe offer a suggestion or two?" Melissa!" said in a not so gentle tone. already." "Enough already is also poor English," Mr. Fleshmound spit out. Before could say Tony shook him again, reminding Elvis of his Tick Hound, Simon Don't,
 on her I'm not a woman face. "Now caN I search hiM?"

"Hey! STriP doWn And pRove It to us," Pancho saID, PanCho being a man who rarely mIssed AnY Kind OF oPportUnity to OGlE THe pUlChRitUdINoUs marVelS of the fEmale speciEs. "PUt Up or shut up, MeLIsSa. Or, Melvin, WhiChever the casE maY be. EnqUiRinG Minds NeeD to knOw." TherE Was an uNdercurreNt OF a univERsal murMURiNg agReement, even includINg mR. Fleshmound, to PAncho's ReALlY GReaT idEa. Right! YeaH! PRove iT!

"come on, MELiSSA," tonY Said in a tired vOice. "You know i Can'T let yoU sEarCH him."

"WoUld yoU bELieVe transsexuAl?" ShE said. "Or hoW about TRansgenDEr? That wOrk?"

"MelIssA," ToNy rePEaTeD. "PlEaSE. YoU KnOw bETteR." She shruGgEd. but shE had ONE MOre tRy iN her.

"how abOut a sizeable bRibE? SeaSOn tIcketS to thE DiaMoNdbacKs or thE CardInAls? That do it for yOu?" ToNy shook hiS biG, sOmeWhAt shaGGy head, Him BeiNg badly In need oF A haIrCUT, HiS regular barber beinG tEMPoRarily inCarcerATeD oVEr a misunDeRstAndiNG ConceRninG UnPaid chilD suppoRT, iN aN emphatIc No! BribE? TOny rivEra? ThE PridE of the Entire soUthweSTern Rivera clan ON both sides of tHE bORDeR? (not cOunTing his secoNd coUSin RIgobERtO, whO Was a hEro in ThE ToWN of Cananea as the locaL mOre or lEss RoBin Hood style dRug lord.) Not EVEN in the reAlm oF PoSSibility. Not eveN in thE universe oF PossibilIty. AnD sure not For some crUMMy season TicKetS. BuT, haD mElIssa offered a tICKet oN tHe Food CHanNel's GouRmeT CrUisE to ThE CaribbeaN, Tony wouLd HaVe HaD to Think HArd on it. BUt She DiDn't. and a gOOd thinG she dIdn't. toNy'S SupErvisorY InTEGritY mIgHt haVe gOnE down The GOUrmEt CruisE tubes.

"OK. Ok," shE Said, GiViNg up. "But Can I at least chEeR from the siDeLinEs? And mAYBe offer a Suggestion or two?"

Melissa!" TONy said iN a nOt so gEntlE tone. "EnouGh aLready."

"enoUGh alreAdy is aLso poOr engLISh," Mr. FLEShMouNd Spit out. BefORE he Could SaY anyThing moRe Tony shook him agaiN, RemInding Elvis of His blue tICk houND, SIMon doN'T, shAKIng
 on her I'm not a woman fa ce. "Now c an Isea rch  h im?" 

"H ey! Strip down andprove it to us," Panch o sai d, Panc h obeing  a manw ho r are ly  m iss ed an y kin d o f oppor tunity toogl ethe pulchrit u di nous marve lsof the femal e s pecies ."Pu t  up o r s hut u p, Mel i ssa. O r, Melvin ,w hichev e r the c a s emaybe. Enquiring min d sn eed to know."Therewa s  a n und erc urrent ofaunive r sal mur m ur i n g  ag r eement, evenincluding M r . F leshmo un d,t o Panc ho'sre a lly  great idea . Ri ght! Yeah ! Prov e  it!

" C ome on,  Melis sa, " T onys ai dinat ire d  v oic e . " You know  I  c an'tlety o u sear chhim. "

"W ould you beli eve  tra n sse xual? " She  sai d.  "Orhow ab out t ra nsgender? Thatwork ?"

"Meli ssa ,"  To ny  repe a ted. " Ple ase . You k now bet t er. "S h e  s hrugged. But she h ad o ne  more tr y in h e r. 
" How abou ta s izea b l e bri be?S ea son tick ets to th eDiamond ba cks or  t heCar dinal s ? Th at doit for y ou?"T ony shook hisb ig, somewhats ha g g yh ead,  hi m being bad ly i n  nee d of ahai r cut,his r eg u la r  barber being tempo ra rily i ncarc erated over a  misunders t a n ding con cern i ng unpaid child s uppor t, in an e m phatic n o! Br ibe? Ton y Rivera? T he pride  of  th e e nti r e  s outhwestern R i v eracl an on b oth  sidesofthe  bo rde r?  (Not cou nting hi sse co nd  co usinR igoberto ,who  w asa her o  in th e tow n of  C an a nea  as the lo c a l mo re  o r le ssRo bin H oods tyl e druglord.) No t e v en i nth e realm  of possibili ty . Not even  i n t he uni v e rse of p ossibility. And sure no t  for so mecrumm y se ason tick ets . But,  ha d  Melis sa off eredatic k e t ont h eFoo dChannel'sG o urm et Cr ui se t o the C aribbean, Tony wou l d h ave had to th ink  har d on  it .  B u t s he did n ' t. And a good t hing she d id n 't . Tony's s u per vi sory in tegrity  migh t  have g one downthe Gourm et  Cru i s e t ubes.

"OK . OK," s he said,g iving up . "Bu t c an I a tlea st ch eer fr o m t he si deline s?  And m aybeof fer a su ggestion or two?"

Meli ssa!"Tonysai d in a no t s o  ge ntle tone . "E nough alre ady ."
"Eno ugh alrea dy i s  a lso poorEngl i sh," Mr.F le shm o u nd  spit out.B e f ore  he c oul d  say a nyth ing more Tony sho o k him again, r emin d i ngElv i s of  h is Blue Tick H oun d, S imon Don 't , shaking
 on_her I'm_not a woman face._"Now can_I_search him?"

"Hey!_Strip_down and prove_it to us,"_Pancho said, Pancho being_a man who_rarely_missed any kind of opportunity to ogle the pulchritudinous marvels of the female species._"Put_up or_shut_up,_Melissa. Or, Melvin, whichever the_case may be. Enquiring minds_need to_know." There was an undercurrent of a universal_murmuring_agreement, even including_Mr. Fleshmound, to Pancho's really great idea. Right! Yeah!_Prove it!

"Come on, Melissa," Tony said_in a tired_voice._"You_know I can't let_you search him."

"Would you believe transsexual?"_She said. "Or how about transgender?_That work?"

"Melissa," Tony repeated. "Please. You know_better." She shrugged. But she had_one more try in her.

"How_about a_sizeable bribe? Season tickets to_the Diamondbacks or_the Cardinals?_That do it_for you?" Tony shook his big,_somewhat shaggy head,_him being badly in need of_a_haircut, his regular_barber_being_temporarily incarcerated_over a misunderstanding_concerning_unpaid child_support,_in an emphatic no! Bribe? Tony_Rivera?_The pride of the entire southwestern Rivera_clan on both sides_of_the border? (Not counting_his second cousin Rigoberto, who_was a hero in the town_of Cananea_as the_local more or less Robin Hood style drug lord.) Not even_in the realm of possibility. Not_even in the universe_of possibility._And_sure not for_some_crummy season_tickets. But, had Melissa offered a ticket_on the_Food Channel's Gourmet Cruise to the_Caribbean, Tony would have_had_to think hard on it. But_she didn't. And a good thing_she didn't. Tony's supervisory integrity_might_have_gone down the Gourmet Cruise_tubes.

"OK. OK," she said, giving up._"But can I_at least cheer from the sidelines? And_maybe_offer a suggestion or two?"

Melissa!" Tony_said_in a not so gentle tone._"Enough_already."

"Enough_already is also poor English,"_Mr. Fleshmound spit out. Before he_could say anything more Tony shook him again, reminding_Elvis of his_Blue Tick Hound, Simon Don't,_shaking