Saturday afternoon, I was walking from my house. I hadn’t eaten anything and walked down Ninth Street to State Street, famished, so hungry and irritable. Jeff was sitting on the grass outside the red brick and arched roofed Christian Science Church at that intersection with Justin, Brady and other bicycle aficionados. Their fixed gear bikes were lying beside them like panting dogs in and out of Sunday afternoon naps. The group of bikers looked like they were waiting for a parade. I was waiting for breakfast. 

Then the band started. It was Thomas Paul and Company rigged up like a marching band on 8th Street and State. He started singing in the mic as his five-piece band moved toward us on a rolling platform. There was no traffic and they played as the platform dragged down State Street, passed us in smart grooving melodies and then turned down Tenth Street heading north. Thomas turned toward me and smiled broadly as they rolled out of sight. I stared after him a while, then down at the ground in a moment of sad silence. Then I went walking with Jeff. 

We came upon a house that was covered in branches and leaves. It was a secret garden house, dilapidated and disheveled. The ivy was grown over the doors and windows, the sidewalk was cracked, and the musty smell putrefied the front door. Then Jeff pressed a button and the façade split away by a mechanized door. It showed new entryway, glistening and white. Inside, the house was a fancy lounging area with low chairs, soft with tilted backs at a comfortable reclining area. A television was on low. Snacks were everywhere in a slight cluttered mess that just added to the cozy, relaxed atmosphere. A perfect bachelor pad. I asked him what this place was.

“My getaway apartment. Especially useful during emergency snack, work or nap attacks,” he said. “Make yourself at home.” 

The whole room was a den complete with electronics whirring, soft carpeting, dorm fridges with beer and easy-to-prepare food items. I sat with him and got the breakfast I had pined after all day. It started with pancakes.