"Cheat, cheat, too close to the first line!" cried Tom.

"Bad rhyme -- same word!" said the mechanic.

"Well what else am I supposed to do?" said the guy who sang theline. "There's no rhyme for nostril in the English language."

"Or any other," said Douglas.

"Like you're an expert on Tadzhiki dialects or something," saidTom.

"Wastrel!" shouted the mechanic.

"That doesn't rhyme," said Douglas.

"Leave it with nostril," said Tom. "We'll simply heap scorn uponpoor Raymond until he rues the day."

"You are so gracious," said Raymond.

"Dougie's turn," said the mechanic.

"I forgot where we were," said Douglas, rising to his feet.

The mechanic immediately jumped up and sang the three linesthey had so far:

I wish I had a friend in my nostril,I know that's where he'd really want to be,Cause if I had a friend in my nostril ...

Rainie happened to be passing near the Boys' Table at thatmoment, and she blurted out the song lyric that popped into her mindbefore Douglas could even open his mouth:

He could eat the boogers I don't see!

Immediately the men at the table leaped to their feet and gaveher a standing ovation, all except Tom, who fell off his chair and rolledon the floor. The only people who didn't seem to enjoy her lyric wereMinnie, who was glaring at her, and Douglas, who stared straightahead for a moment and then sat down -- laughing along with theothers, but only as much as conviviality required.

I'm sorry I stole your thunder, Rainie said silently. Whenever Ithink of the perfect clincher at the end of a verse, I always blurt it outlike that, I'm sorry.

She went back to the counter and got the chili, which Minnie hadalready laid out on a tray. "Are you trying to make my customers getindigestion right here in the diner?" Minnie hissed. "Boogers! Eatingthem. My land!"

"I'm sorry," said Rainie. "It just came out."