[Veritas]

Whew! It's been eight months since anyone updated this story. Better get it going again! Anyone reading this can add onto it.
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Dear Dimi:

Hello, it's us again, your loving parents. Hope all your classes are going well. Have you decided on joining a sorority yet?

We got some bad news on this side: your Uncle Christopher has developed a hiatial hernia and has to have an operation in LA. They say it's not too serious, but anything requiring surgery is not to be taken lightly. Please pray for his recovery. Still no official word about his engagement to Sandra (remember: don't go spreading it around.)

How are you doing on cash? Did you find a part-time job yet? Don't let it interfere with your schoolwork--that's why you're there in the first place. We are all proud of you and want you to succeed in your chosen field.

Love,

Mom and Dad.



"So, Quay tells me he's got to take a course in nutrition," Syd Krupermann told JD as he leaned over the counter of the Luxor's new health store. "I asked him why bother since he pratically grew up in a vitamin store and his mother's a nutritionist herself. But, they said it was required, so..."

JD had stopped in Syd's store to pick up some Omega-3 for his mother that morning. Being old schoolmates, they had fallen to chatting about this and that: their marriages, their careers, their families, and now their kids in college.

"Well, he'll ace that class for sure, then," JD said.

"Ace it?" Syd echoed. "Hell, he could teach it! He knows every vitamin from A to zinc and what it does!"

JD chuckled. "So, how's everything on your end?" Syd asked.

"Well, Dimi's planning to join a sorority--didn't say which one. I'm sure she'll be okay."

Syd smiled. "I know what you're thinking. You're afraid she'll end up in some snobbish clique or the female version of Animal House, right? Don't sweat it, dude! My wife's niece belongs to Delta Gamma, and they're the most civic-minded group of girls you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting--not a snob or a slob in the bunch! These Greek organizations have a lot of fun, sure, but they do have high standards of conduct. Oh, sure, the frats have the occasional beer bash, but they're Boy Scouts compared to the stereotypes shown in the movies or on TV. Trust me, joining a sorority will be the best thing your daughter will ever do. The connections will help her even after graduation. Anyway, it looks damn good on a resume, let me tell you!"

JD smiled. "Thanks for the pep talk, Syd,"

Suddenly, he remembered why he had stopped in the store in the first place. "Oh, I'm gonna need some Omega-3 for Mom."

Syd pointed down an aisle. "First shelf to your right."

JD walked to the shelf where the Omega-3 was kept. "So, how's that crazy brother of yours doing?" Syd asked.

JD walked back to the counter, "Christopher came down with a hiatial hernia a few days ago--"

Syd whistled. "That's bad."

"Yeah, he was pretty sick for a while," JD concurred. "He flew to LA for the operation--came through with flying colors, as always. He'll be home by this weekend to rest up." He sniffed in derision. "If we can get him to rest up, that is."

"A real workaholic, huh?"

"Oh, yeah."

Syd straighted up. "Well, I can't prescribe anything since I'm not a licensed pharmacist," he said, "but I can suggest a few good vitamin supplements that'll help him get back on his feet."

JD's ears pricked up. "Oh, yeah? Like what?"

Syd turned around and selected a few large bottles from the shelf behind him. He held up one, its label stating it was a men's vitamin supplement. "This is really good for metabolism," he said. "It's got extra iron for blood rejuvination, which is what your brother's gonna need after surgery."

He held up another. "Now this one's good for tissue repair. After a hernia operation, he's gonna need a boost to repair the damage. And this one's an energy booster. It's kinda strong for someone who just had surgery, so it's best to hold off on it after a few days' recovery."

JD reviewed each bottle, reading their labels carefully. "I'll take all of them," he said. "Christopher's gonna need all the help he can get."

Syd rang up the sale, bagged the bottles of vitamins, and handed JD the receipt to sign. "There you go," he said cheerfully. "Just make sure to follow the directions on the label. These aren't your everyday over-the-counter drugstore variety. They're pretty potent."

"Thanks a whole lot, Syd." JD said.

He had just turned to leave when he saw a formidably familiar presence striding toward the store. Even Syd was startled. He leaned toward JD. "Who is that?" he murmured.

"That," said JD, "is Big Luke Macaffey, chief of security, the Luxor's top cop. He used to be a prison guard at a supermax before he came here."

"Pretty tough customer, huh?"

JD nodded. "The toughest."

Syd watched as Big Luke strode into the store. "He doesn't look happy," he said.

"When you see Macaffey," JD said, "it's never a happy occasion."

Macaffey strode up to the counter, looming large over the two men. "Morning, gentlemen," he grunted.

"Hey, Macaffey," JD said. Syd just murmured hello.

Macaffey turned to Syd. "You the owner of this store?" he asked.

Syd nodded. "Uh, this is Syd Krupermann," JD said, leaping to his friend's rescue. "We used to go to school together."

Macaffey merely grunted and handed Syd a sheet of paper. "Post this in your window where everyone can see it," he ordered. He handed another sheet to JD. "Same with you," he said.

"What's the deal?" JD asked.

"City's cracking down on truancy," Macaffey explained bluntly. "Any school-age kid caught in your place of business during school hours, and you're slapped with a hundred-dollar fine. Get the picture?"

Syd read what was printed on the paper:

NO ONE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE
ALLOWED IN THIS ESTABLISHMENT
DURING THE HOURS OF 8:00 AM AND 4:00 PM
ON SCHEDULED SCHOOL DAYS
BY ORDER OF THE LAS VEGAS
METROPOLITAN BOARD OF EDUCATION

.

"Okay," said Syd. "We'll get right on it."

Macaffey nodded once. "Good."

He turned and left. Both men breathed a huge sigh of relief after the chief vacated the store. "All of a sudden, I felt like I was back in grade school facing one of the bullies who used to beat me up!" Syd said.

JD shook his head. "Macaffey's not the bullying type," he assured him. "He's tough on crime, but he's fair. Stay on his good side, and you'll get along fine with him."

"Oh, yeah? Which is his good side?"

JD smiled. "The one farthest away from him!"