At four o’clock in the morning Jack was the only one walking by the “complex”. He made his way up to Magazine and headed towards Toby’s. That was the nice thing about being in New Orleans, even after the storm; there was always someplace to go. Toby’s was one of those places that had been on Magazine forever. The place was always open, seven days a week three hundred and sixty five days a year. It was a New Orleans institution. It could not be found in any tourist brochure or advertisement for the city, but if a person lived or went to school in New Orleans and did not know about Toby’s, they either were homebound or lying.

Jack’s apartment was within walking distance. He could taste the cheeseburger and cheese fries. He just hoped that being it was a Tuesday night that they had not already shut down the kitchen. As Jack approached he could hear Janus having another little piece of her heart taken. The front door was propped open to allow a breeze into the bar. Jack walked in.

The lights were low, as always but not so low as to not notice that the place was empty. Not even the washer machines in the back corner were occupied. Toby’s was a one stop shop. A patron could get a beer, a meal and do their laundry. They would even cash checks if they knew you well enough. Phil looked up from his paper that he had spread out on the bar.

“I was hoping that I would not see you tonight.” He said.

“Is the grill still hot?” Jack asked.

“I’ll warm it up for you.” Phil said. He put a coffee cup on the wooden bar and filled it. He poured some milk into a plastic cup and put the sugar next to it.

Jack sat down at the bar and placed his cigarettes next to the coffee cup. Jack poured the sugar and milk into the coffee. He stirred it with a straw. He took a sip. It was all those little things that Jack had missed while overseas. Being able to take a shit in peace, watching T.V. alone and a good New Orleans cup of coffee. Jack reached out and grabbed a portion of the paper.

“Anything good in here?” Jack asked.

Phil was over by the grill.

“Same shit, our mayor, Willie Wonka, is still taking us up the chocolate highway of despair. Everyone is going to rich off this highway except the working people that live here.” Phil said. The hamburger patty sizzled as it hit the grill.

“At least it is entertaining,” Jack said.

“Sad and pathetic, but entertaining none the less.” Phil agreed.