"out of zeros?" i said, "i didn't know you could run out of zeros."

"we try not to," she said, "but sometimes we forget to order them in time. Can you run over to the plant and pick some up for us? payroll is monday."

"Can you use ones instead?" i asked.

"Sparky would kill us, it would cost him a fortune."

So I got in my cart and scooted over to the big empty plant where we make the numbers. I met Alfonse at the gate. "Alphonse, accounting is all out of zeros, they asked me to see if you could give me a couple of pounds."

"that's bad, i don't know what to do, we're all out of nothing, too."

"how can you run out of nothing?" I asked him.

"supply and demand." Alphonse shrugged. "how can you run out of zeros? why doesn't she just write it out in words?"

"i don't know, i'll ask her," I said and jumped back into my cart, but the battery was dead.

there's new moon a-comin' i thought to myself... sounds like that would make a good song.