I read a short story many years ago, I'm not even sure if it's one of Ray's! It's about a man in a city on a sweltering hot summers day who feels compelled to enter a shop. While in there, the woman behind the counter offers him a cool drink (lemonade?) in exchange for his soul; the woman tells him that if he takes the drink his life will change for the better, but at the cost stated. Initially the man refuses and leaves. Later, after much thought he decides to go through with the 'transaction'. On returning to the shop, he finds that it is shut and is filled with regret for not taking the drink while he could. Can anyone tell me the name of this story and where I can find it?
I've spent the last few hours searching in my attic for the paperback copy of 'Long After Midnight'. I knew I had it, somewhere. Eventually I found it, in the last box, right at the bottom; Bantam Books 1978. I finished 'rereading' the story 'Drink Entire: Against the Madness of Crowds' a short while ago. Can I say "Thank You!" to Brayling II and Philnic for helping me to rediscover a story that for some reason means a lot to me; both in the past as a teenager and now as a middle aged man.
How ironic!! I just stopped by for a few minutes to see what was up here... just before I go up into the "attic" to get some stuff for an Aug. trip West.
(Good to hear from Rocket and Viktoria of late, also.)
Posts: 2803 | Location: Basement of a NNY Library | Registered: 07 April 2005
