Bad Machinery by John Allison for January 03, 2024

Lottie has fallen under the influence of the French leather jacket.

This may, in fact, be the worst idea Charlotte Grote has ever had, or at least the most obviously bad. Though some of her recent life decisions in Solver may come close.

A habit of smoking leads to “the end.”

Type 2 fun.

Really, I don’t know how smokers can stand it.

Yeah, it really is, and Lottie’s had some whoppers before now.

Is that an ominous F W, or maybe simply FIN?

Nothing better than the first cig in the morning.

I once smoked in my vicarious youth and it was difficult to stop.

As I have later told people, especially young ones, the best way to stop smoking is… don’t start.

Although I DO miss saying this poem to people who tried to bum a cigarette off of me…

===

Cigarettes, cigarettes I do buy.

Poor people I don’t supply.

Now, when I buy, I buy the best,

Smoke ’em short,

And save the rest.

I don’t wanna cause any confusion,

But, if you can’t afford ’em,

Then please don’t use ’em.

And to make it plain, for those who are dense…

Do not ever t!t about with cigarettes.

I think that is ‘FIN’, which I think is French for “The End”. Yes?

This is the worst way to end a case, this is the best way to end a story! Lottie’s idea was amazing.