Winn Dixie

on top of one of the fish tanks, looking right at me. "An installment plan," I said, ignoring the parrot, "you know, where I promise to give you my allowance every week and you give me the leash and the collar now."

"I don't think I can do that," said the man. He shook his head. "No, the owner, she wouldn't like that." He looked down at the counter. He wouldn't look at me. He had thick black hair, and it was slicked back like Elvis Presley's. He had on a name tag that said OTIS.

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