camouflaged perfectly, nestled in the secluded country of rocks, bushes, and trees... a fort, we believed to be of great proportions. We were The Warriors; I was Blaze. I was the best friend of Lion-O and Cheetara, of April and Leonardo. We were superheroes to the lost children of this wretched place. We set up laser barriers for intruder detection, but I realize, now, those tripwires of string and bottles and cans were simply buying us a little time, enough for a solitary moment of joy, of y...

You cheer me on. One shot. Another. Just one more. One fifth of whiskey later. Brutality possesses me. I kick you. Unprotected. Direct hit to your balls. We laugh about it. All of us. Well. More like howl. I trip. Apparently over my own feet. Nosedive to hardwood floor. I swear. My shirt is purple. But it is orange. And not mine. I am a mess. Such comic relief. Not to mention. My drunken phone calls. All in fun. We tell ourselves. You claim bragging rights. Hilarious. Until I pass out. Until...