It was a typical Saturday night for Jack and Sue. They were watching some made for tv movie, half empty 40’s sat on the table in front of them. At commercial Jack picked up his pack of cigarettes and tapped the box three times on his palm. After vainly searching the interior he announced to Sue that it was time for a trip to the gas station.

They walked across the empty lot and as they turned the corner and walked up to the florescent lit doors a man of about thirty five spoke in a jagged voice. He asked to bum a cigarette but Jack replied he was out. Sue replied, as she always did, that she was a non-smoker. Sue noticed this man walk into the store after them and stand watch. She tugged on Jacks beaten up leather coat but he didn’t notice. After purchasing the Newports Jack packed them as he was leaving and the same man followed them outside and ran up to Jack and asked the same question as before. This time without hesitation Jack unwrapped the cellophane and handed the man a smoke. The jagged man thanked him politely and complimented him on his fine choice in women. Sue blushed as they walked across the empty lot towards home.

Suddenly Jack grabbed Sue's arm and whispered in her ear, "don’t turn around, but hand me your keys. That man is following us. I know him, he's a crack addict who lives around here. He’s desperate." Jack let them down the street towards their buddy's house. "The last thing we need is to have him know where we live."

As they got to the porch of Ted's house Sue glanced back and saw the man standing on the corner. Ted opened the door, obviously intoxicated and as Jack explained what was going on Ted replied in a drunken slur, "What the fuck man. That’s so fucking messed up. You save your ass by showing a crack head where I fucking live. Now my ass is fucked. Fuck man! Get the fuck out!" He cocked his belligerent fist back and Jack shut the door. Sue glanced at the man still watching them from the corner and grabbed Jack's wrist tightly. "My car" she whispered and he agreed. They ran through Ted's yard, through the alley to their driveway where Sue's old beat up Camry sat. Jack unlocked the door and as they climbed in he turned the key to the ignition.

Nothing. "Sweetheart, you left he dome light on again?" Sue looked at him with terror in her eyes. At that moment fists pounded on the roof. Both jumped and Jack yelped with pain as his head cracked on the steel. It was Ted. "That fucking crack addict is in my fucking house. Now stop being a pussy and go deal with that fuck."