At 11:55 CJ closes the door behind him as he
steps out onto the front stoop. They live in apartments that
stretch away on either side of him and across the street in row
after identical row. This time of the day, only a few cars line the
parking lot—most everyone’s at work. Everyone but him and the woman
next door, who watches kids all day. Sometimes if it’s nice out,
she takes the whole gaggle down to the swing set at the far end of
the apartment complex. CJ thinks only one or two of the kids are
hers. The rest she watches to make money. Last month he would take
his board down to the swings just to show off—the little kids loved
his kick flip, that’s one of his best moves. But then someone in
management posted the NO SKATING sign and f**k that. He’ll take his
board elsewhere.
