It all began on a Thursday. I woke up too early for my midterm and was forced to study in the morning.

When given more time than necessary, I tend to overdo simple things. This midterm was simple and an hour after 10 a.m., I was done.

It’s funny when you realize youy’re different from people. Case in point, me and my roommate. He’s a drunk and I’m not. He frequents strip clubs and I don’t. He goes out and I stay home. At least in his eyes.

After he left, a couple of people called about sacks. My friend Dru was one of them. He stopped by and we headed to the Old Market for a beer and a bite. I complained loudly about my current situation and we further cemented plans for my move to population.

 

Looking back, ‘population’ was a movement closer to the heart of the city. An interesting thought, but one at the time that makes sense since my previous habitation was on the outskirts, but still urban enough to allow for walking. Whereas my residence at the time was an apartment, but one surrounded by homes. It was 15 minutes outside downtown, but felt like miles more. A journey I currently kid my sister about, but at least when it was me, there was an actual mountain in the way.

 

When we pulled back into my complex, he said,

”Isn’t that your cat?”

”Yeah, it is.”

Smokey had run away a couple of days ago. Long enough for Tuffy to claim his turf and Kenny to plot on his cat food.

It may seem like I didn’t like my roommate Kenny, but my emotions were exactly the opposite. He was perfect for me at the time, just like I hoped that I was perfect for him as well. My influence got him out of his parents house and on his own. It allowed him to explore a larger scale of an occupation he surely had at a much smaller version. It also afforded him a lifestyle to be completely envied by any young man under 25. To be single, with a young ‘girlfriend’, living on your own with a roommate who kept the place clean, paid rent on time and would join you at times, but still had their own life. I think our relationship helped both sides, even if I was a ship only in port for a few months.

I spent Friday afternoon listening to the life of an abused girl. It’s funny, looking back from a distance. This is a mirror image of my old existence in Jersey. Wild man to female headcase and Jewish companion. Only problem is I hated the way both of those relationships turned out…

I brewed ice tea on Saturday. The day before my overnite shift is like a waste of a day. Unfortunately, on this day I once again woke up too early. By the time I hit the station at 10 p.m., I was exhausted. Tiff kept me up all night with mindless babble, but she’s too young for my old mind to play with. She also wanted too much on that night and the next day, I confirmed plans for later that month.

I was stoned Monday. Kenny had a new ‘keif box’ and we all got giddy when I got a call.

”Mah-tin. Wassup, it’s Dru.”

”Yeah?”

”Are you going to the staff party tonight? Yeah you are, so I figured you could come here and smoke a bowl or two before we go.”

”Give me an hour.”

”Make it less.”

I was there in 35. Floating in the shower, I thought about free drinks and bad conversation, staples of these things. No matter, I’m a sucker for free booze.

By the time I got to Dru’s, he was hi and apologetic. Lack of week turns potheads edgy and he was no exception. A bowl after we spoke and he regretted making me rush. I thought I took my time anyway. Needless to say, we were both hi when we left.

Billy Reed’s is huge, new and ‘trendy’. Arriving fashionably late allowed the cliques to form. It’s amazing how the real world turns into lunch at a high school cafeteria. We made our way to the bar out in the back.

”It looks like a kegga out here.”

”Vodka tonic with a twist of lime please?”

We sat down and watched the festivities for a little while. Nothing really stands out from that night except free drinks and idle chat. The people I spoke to said volumes without words and suddenly, I had played my cards right. I got offers for more hours, free shows and a smoke session at ‘Pam’s’. I wasn’t driving so I wasn’t in control.

Tuesday night, we drove down to the shore. I ended up on the floor of this place because the sofa was too small. When I finally got up, I talked my host into throwing a ball around with his dog. I finally learned what dogs are really good for…