The day was hot – unrelenting heat that made Barry drink two gallons of water without pissing. He had a pickup at Avenue Talent, and he pushed himself to get there early, so he might bask in the air-conditioning while the receptionist got the package together. He imagined the trail of sweat behind his bike, visible from the air, making a scribble pattern across the city like a three-year-old's drawing. Barry got to the building, took two stairs at a time up two flights, and rushed to the doo...

Teddie Goldenberg 4391 words Deuce opened the door to the bar and pulled it shut quickly behind him. He pulled off his gloves, his hat, his balaclava, his glove liners, unwound his scarf, unzipped his outer coat, swung his messenger bag around with a twitch of his shoulder, and stuffed all the loose gear in his bag. His hands felt like there was too much blood in them - about to explode - so he flexed them while his eyes adjusted to the darkened room. “You gotta tip the dancer for a stamp,” s...