The effectiveness surprised Alex. Shortages occurred infrequently and the variety rotated better than expected. The Marks building also acted as a library, keeping Alex in a steady supply of well-worn, but immensely readable paperbacks.
Despite desiring privacy, Alex yearned to belong. To contribute. The group never exerted any pressure, but Alex didn’t believe in taking without giving back. Since the embarrassing pittance their parents had allotted ran dry a long time back, they procured goods to share the same way everyone else did—the five finger discount.
Alex should have felt guilty, and in another life might have, but this world differed from middle class existence in every conceivable way. They avoided small businesses, but the big corporations and superstores were fair game, and
