Editor's note: Jay-sus, Rap! Look, man, don't kill off ALL my minor characters, eh? Where's Chongo gonna get contraband bananas now? Whew! Gotta catch my breath...

Okay...

The grenade pretty well ruined Joey's forever as a cheap but fine dining spot, and started a fire that flared up fast, fueled by a few odd gallons of deep fry grease behind the counter. The smell was awful, and it brought Chongo fully to his senses. What the hell was the ceiling doing on the floor and why was it swinging back and forth like that? Oh... It was the chandelier that was swinging, and Chongo was on it, lying on his back. "Interesting view," he thought. "Man, this thing is filthy on top!" Then the sprinklers kicked in.

It was time to make a fast exit. Chongo did his best Johhny Weismuller imitation (lo-o-o-ove those movies!), swung way back on the chandelier, yelled "Kree-gah!!!", and catapulted himself right past the flaming kitchen and through the remnants of the side window that faced on the alleyway. He landed in a pile of reeking garbage cans, did a fast roll, and came up covered in coffee grounds and old grapefruit rinds.

"Jee-SUS!!!" yelled Chongo. "This suit cost me 15 bucks!"

"You really smell bad, mister," said a little human kid as Chongo tried to shake off some of the coffee grounds and other detritus.   The kid was wearing short pants and one of those hats with the little triangles cut all around the top, and he had a crewcut.

"So do you, kid," said Chongo. "Now beat it or I'll call yer ma."

This day was definitely going from bad to worse, and it was still just beginning.

*****

Editors note: "Kree-gah" means "Look out!" or "Beware!" in street-ape patois, popularized by none other than Edgar Rice Burroughs, God rest his soul.