The Back of Our Heads
By STEPHEN BARR
Illustrated by DILLON
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Galaxy Science Fiction July 1958.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
She traveled from life to death and back again
like a commuter on the 5:15 ... except each trip
brought her nearer the beginning of the line!
In reading this report, it must be borne in mind that when the word"they" is used, it does not refer necessarily to separate entities asindividuals.
It is possible that a closer analogy would be the cells of anorganism—which, in a sense, we ourselves become when we are in a packor forming a mob.
On the other hand, that particular cell or entity which this reportdeals with exhibited at all times marked individuality—eveneccentricity—and will hereinafter be referred to as "she." This isbecause "she" invariably assumed a female form when visiting us, andbecause she furthermore gave every indication of that type of mindand point of view which is generally met with in the more noticeable,effective or contentious members of that sex.
As she put it herself during the hearing, she was always in hot water.
The four teen-agers—one girl, three boys—weren't allowed in thebar, so they went down the street to a joint where there were a sodafountain, booths and a jukebox. They sat in a booth and a waitress cameto take the orders: three hot dogs and three cokes.
"What about you, dear?"
"Just a glass of water." The waitress started to leave. "No,wait—gimme a white on rye, too."
The waitress left, then came back again. "What was that you wanted,dear? Some kind of rye-bread sandwich?"
"Changed my mind. Make it a buttered pecan, but tell 'em to go easyon the butter. And I don't want no French dressing. Make it on wholewheat."
The waitress looked uncertain. "You mean a nut sandwich?"
"Yeah, only malted. With lettuce and chocolate sprinkles."
"Who you kiddin'?" the waitress said, and turned to go.
"No, hold it. Tell Joe to please scramble them on both sides."
"What you talkin' about?" the waitress said. "We ain't got no onehere called Joe."
"So okay, Joseph, then. Tell him just a boiled egg sunny side up."
The waitress left, frowning.
"Our Miss Framis," one of the boys said, meaning the girl, and theothers smiled. They looked as though they were sneering at the sametime and hoped they would be taken for juvenile delinquents.
There were two very odd-looking men in the booth opposite and theywere listening to the conversation. Their oddness lay in an atmosphererather than in any physical abnormality. The girl noticed them andnudged one of the boys.
The three boys looked at the men resentfully and one of them saidsomething under his breath, but the girl said, "Button it." Then sheasked the men opposite, "Lookin' for someone, mister?"
The two men looked away, and this made the boys feel brave. One of themsaid, "Let's give 'em the works."
"No, leave it to me." The girl got up and went across to the two men."Me and my friends was wondering. Maybe you gentlemen would like tocome to a trake in the gort later?"
The three boys snickered and the men