“Hey, buddy, what’s the deal?”, Frank the Flash asked his attorney.

“Let get something straight right now. I’m not your buddy, I’m your attorney. I’m your attorney because the Maf- your associates paid me to represent you. I’d prosecute you if I was paid to. I wouldn’t be your buddy for any amount of money”.

“Hey! What the Hell kinda lawyer are ya’. You can’t talk down to me like I was some pimp or regular guy. Tell the boys to get me someone else, ya hear?”.

“I’m it, Frank. The boys told me to tell you that. In effect, they’ve written you off. You’re never going back on the streets again”.

“What kinda lawyer are ya? You don’t sound to opto, opt-”

“Optimistic? Is that the word you’re looking for? Your fingerprints are all over the car where the bodies were. You were arrested in possession of the gun that fired the shots. I can’t think of a defense for you. We could pack the jury with your associates and you’d still be convicted”.

“Well, I was a little careless, I guess. Damn! Okay, cut a deal. I can do life but not the death penalty. Okay? I mean, I don’t wants go ta sleep and wake up dead. Okay?”

“I’ll check. You know, Frank, it’s not like it used to be. I remember seeing guys strapped to the chair and jolted straight up. Their damned eyeballs would pop out. Sometimes their hair would catch fire. Now they just put you to sleep”.

“Man, I hate needles. They care the crap out of me. That sounds sorta bar, something”.

“Barbaric? Sure. What you did was too. Some places used to strap you to a chair and drop cyanide into a bucket. Those guys would piss their pants. I felt bad for the guys cleaning up afterwards.”

“Oh, man, that would smell awful”.

“Yes, but not to the guy in the chair. He was dead. He didn’t smell a thing Point is, Frank, you’re going out the easy way. Easier than the guys you shot.”

“Look, I know I screwed it up good. Tell the DA I’ll plead not guilty and he don’t ask for no death penalty, okay?”

“Sure, I’ll check with him”.

When the attorney came back the next day, Frank was very nervous. He hadn’t slept well. He was afraid to go to sleep. He was afraid he’d wake up dead. Life without parole was better than dead, he reasoned. When the attorney arrived he asked what the deal was.

“The DA said to tell you, ‘No deal. Tell him pleasant dreams’”.