It's early, the streets are lined with garbage cans. Chris hobbles down the steps with his Double Bass. Upon reaching the walk he props it against his baluster and digs into his pocket for absent cab fare.

In 1973 Chris substituted for another bassist. Two years later the band released a best-of-live album. Chris was never given credit for his contribution. The settlement produced the townhouse which he mortgaged for the bass.

Chris raced to his room to retrieve said missing fare. Out a window he sees a garbage truck brace and then crush his precious antique.

I sat in the stale, stifling air of my suffocating apartment, miserable. Even though the sun had gone down two hours ago, the heat was still too much to bear. I was sweating in my chair, even though I wasn’t wearing a shirt.

I slowly rose to my feet, my back noisily coming unstuck from the fake leather I had been glued to by the humidity. I grabbed my radio and a fresh beer, slipped into some sandals, and made my way outside to the fire escape. The crack of the beer can’s tab was crisp in the night air.