Pizza Kills 9:

Things soon settled after that. I put it behind me and got onto business. The idea for the cigarettes and patches went into production and all was well. I should've known it was going to good.

I woke that morning like it was any other day. I was dressed in blue and black from head to toe. I had a black bow ribbon holding back my hair. I wore my favorite blue boots with matching shorts and a black shirt. I wore a blue jacket over the shirt that was closed at the neck. It looked more like a motorcycle jacket but it fit with the ensemble.

I was in my office soon. I sat down and checked my schedule. It seemed that Willy and I barely had time to say hello these days. The only time I saw him was to pass on candy ideas. Candy came in and I didn't pay any attention, as she was a fixture there. I saw my calendar and slammed my hand on top of it. It was that day…my birthday. I was 29 now.

"Ah, hell!" I said scaring Candy. "Sorry!"

I knew from that point on I would be no good. My mind had shut down. I told Candy I was taking the day off. I went to my room and changed into a pair of blue jeans and a long sleeved, blue, butterfly collar shirt I left un-tucked. I threw on a pair of blue and white Nikes and stood taking the bow out. I got my blue messenger bag and packed my laptop and phones. I put my credit cards and checkbook in my pocket. I would stop and get cash later. I was closing my door when I looked up.

"Hey there bunny!" said Willy.

"Hi Willy…bye Willy," I said and headed away from him.

He jumped in front of me.

"Where yah going?" he asked.

I shrugged, "Out."

He looked panicked even with a smile on his face, "Why? There's nothing out there!"

"I need to go outside Willy. The only person who has to stay in is the bubble boy and I'm not him," I said.

"Are you…are you coming back?" he asked.

Then I realized he was looking at my messenger bag. I opened it to show him what was in inside. He sighed in relief.

"Well…have fun working," I said and turned to go.

"I wanna go!" he said.

I looked at him.

"People will recognize you," I said.

He smiled and then disappeared into his room. I heard a few curse words and a few crashes. He really was a klutz. He soon emerged and even I was stunned. He stood there in red cargo pants and a matching red shirt like mine. He had on red and white Nikes as well, but on his head he had a red kangol hat. He looked at his red watch.

"We better get cracking!" he said and then blinked. "What?"

I smiled, "You look younger than me."

"Thank you! Even though you're only 29 today." He said. "Happy birthday."

I smiled, "Thank you."

We each put on our matching Square (mine) and round (his) shades after making sure we had everything we needed. Willy had everything in his many pockets. He put my things in his pockets as well so I wouldn't squish them. We went down and we told Mrs. Bucket we were going out. She gave me a grocery list and I tucked it in one of Willys many pockets.

We were soon outside the gates. I had been walking when I realized Willy wasn't by my side. I turned back to see him standing at the gate like a stone gargoyle. I walked up to him and looked at him. I took his red-gloved hand in mine and gave it a squeeze. He looked at me.

"I'm…I'm scared," he whispered.

"I promise you…nothing will happen to you…I wont let it," I said looking him in the eye.

"You wont?" he asked.

"I'll be your personal bodyguard," I said laughing a little.

"Like Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner?" he asked excitedly.

"Yes…but I'm not picking you up…I'd get a hernia." I said.

He laughed and we were soon off. We both stopped at the bank to get cash. Thankful neither of us had to talk to anyone as we used the atm machine. We decided to go see a movie. I wanted to see War of the Worlds. I warned Willy it was scary. He pish poshed me. We got our tickets and went inside. There were more than a few girls eying him as he leaned over the candy counter trying to decide what he wanted.

If they were looking at what I was I couldn't blame them. Willy had a nice butt for a white guy. Hell any guy. His pants were wearing him. I think I could've watched him instead of the movie. His voice shook me out of my daze.

"I'm getting these…chocolate ball thingies and the sour worms. Do you want some too?" he asked smiling.

I just nodded my head. He got the candy. I walked over and got some nachos fully loaded (One without jalapenos for willy), hot dogs, and drinks. I got a root beer and Willy wanted a slushie. He put the drinks on his tray and we went inside. We sat in the balcony. There were a lot of kids most likely skipping school. I liked the balcony especially the front row. You can put your feet up which we did.

We ate and watched the movie. Most of it was scary. Some parts we laughed our asses off. Willy tried my nachos and like them. He stole some of my jalapenos. He ate like he'd never eaten before. Then again maybe not junk food. When the movie ended we got up and walked out arm in arm.

"Now what birthday girl?" he asked.

I shrugged, "I don't know." I said.

We were walking along when he ducked into a shop. I stood there waiting. He came out with something behind his back. I eyed him warily. I wouldn't have put it past him to find a water balloon. He held out what was in his hand…bluebonnets…the state of Texas's state flower. It's illegal to pick in Texas but you can buy them in places where they grow them.

"Thank you Willy…they're beautiful," I said taking them. "They match your eyes."

He blushed, "I hadn't thought of that."

We decided to head to the market and get the groceries. I will never let Willy push another trolley cart. He was like a bad NASCAR driver. We filled the list after I hit him a few times. Even my attention span is better than his and that isn't saying much. Once the list was done we each got a few things. He almost fainted at what I got. I was a woman. I made them put my things in brown paper bags and closed them. We took a cab back to the factory. I gave my personal things to Candy to put away. We then went to the Buckets…arguing. We set the bags down.

"You don't have to bite my head off!" I said.

"I don't like filthy cars!" he said.

"All I said was why don't you buy your own car…I am!" I said.

"Who said I'd let you leave?" he said through clenched teeth.

The room went silent as everyone stopped putting away the groceries. In that moment he was just like my father. I acted without thinking. I slapped him so hard I left a red handprint on his face. The day was going so well and he opened his mouth and ruined it. He held his hand up to his face. We just stood there looking at each other. I walked out and heard him speak softly.

"Happy birthday."