Day 68: Into Illinois

Our friend the fool camped out behind a gas station in town, where the gas attendant warned him to be careful when he got to St. Louis — not referring to the fact that the city has one of the highest murder rates in the world, but because the cops are "tough asses," adding that he got busted there a few years back for just having "a couple ounces of weed. That's all!" The Fool walked through town, reaching the state border and entering the Land of Lincoln — Illinois. He walked a good 12 miles to Lawrenceville where he got some chicken lo mein at the town's dusty Chinese restaurant. After hanging out at the town square, sucking up salty noodles and watching local dressed-up teens on their way to the prom, the Walking Fool stood up and exited the fine town of Lawrenceville. But after spending the time there, he felt such a close kinship with the place, he felt comfortable calling it Larryville.