I left the store happy. But soon greed took hold of me. It was simple; it was flawless; it was so easy. Any brand new CD for $5.30. All I had to do was find more junk to trade! So back I went to the 99 Cent emporium. More sorting. This time I would think big and buy 10 CDs! I found The Wizard of Oz, British show version, some black gospel, vocalists that no one had ever heard of, including the ever popular Shooting Star, certainly a perennial favorite by now. But how could I return to the same Wherehouse where I certainly would be recognized? Should I try to rent a disguise? No, too devious. Instead I drove 25 miles out of my way to the College Avenue Wherehouse. Dumping the loot on the counter, I awaited the familiar routine. This time the clerk examined each one carefully, found one that was scratched and called over his manager. She eyed me suspiciously, looked at the flotsam and jetsam, and said sadly, "Can't do it". These list in our computer for 50 cents or less. No one will buy them. You need to trade something that at least people want." Dejectedly, I left. Grabbing a bite to eat at Boston Market, I thought things over. Where did I go wrong? Had the window of opportunity closed? Maybe not.

Back I went to the first Wherehouse, where the clerk seemed glad to see me. "Found more stuff, eh?", he asked happily. "Just things I can hardly bare to part with," I chortled. He went through the crap again, but this time he seemed very discriminating and rejected half. Better than nothing. My prize now was Loreena's recent album, "To Drive the Cold Winter Away" ($14.99). Good deal. But I still had 5 orphans to place in a nice home. Not far away was Music Trader, so I popped in and suggested a 2 for 1 trade to the woman with more body piercings than I had ever seen, who was working the nightshift. "Naw", she said. "This stuff is awful". I was going to be coy and counter with "3 for 1?" but decided that being left holding the bag with any CD whose use was limited to Frisbee tosses or taking the place of cocktail coasters was not desirable. "OK", I said, "5 for 1, but's that's my best offer!" She laughed and agreed. I found a used copy of the Cranberries' "Everybody Else is Doing It So Why Can't We?" ($8.99). So ended my little excursion into cosmic anomalies. What a deal, if only I hadn't traded away such rare collector's items!