I’m in my room around ten, stripped naked, and waiting, but Jack never shows. I fall asleep and when I wake with a start, nobody’s there. It’s morning. I hop out of bed, dress and clean up, then take a quick breakfast, all the while having no idea what I’m up to. I only know I have to find Jack and see what he’s about.
I find him drinking at the Acme. One eye is swollen and purple and there’s a bruise along his jaw. I wonder what his middle looks like. When I approach, he throws back his drink and stalks out, but I refuse to be refused.
I follow him, catch his arm. “Jack,” I say, but he shakes me off. Outside, I keep at him. “You’d best stop and talk to me because I’m not going to let up.”
He turns and shoves me into an alley, then shoves me again and again until we’re a good ways back.
