atlantic city

i come home late and beat but i'm hoping i can get some work out of everything. just as i get a glass set up, i hear the knocking on the basement door.

benny's wrapped in cigarette smoke and rolls sideways into my place, landing deep on the sofa.

"maybe i just can't be around her", he says. i fix us two whiskys and put his tumbler in front of him.

"she was there when i got there. i didn't plan it this time".

Benny is hung up on coicindences and happenstance. Like every jilted lover, they see their ex in everything. recurring times, street names, tatoos. it doesn't matter the stretch, benny gets convinced with any co-incident.

"did you say anything to her?"

"nah, i made the bartender put on Atlantic City and then i left"

"you left?"

"yeah. What the fuck was i supposed to do?"

Benny is a good guy. He could be someone. but he never seems to be able to handle his emotions. I get tired of him sometimes.