Last Thursday, a friend and I went to a Milwaukee Brewers game. It was fun, and the guys brought home a win, which made the day even better. But that’s not why I mention it. The reason I bring it up is what happened after the game, and a childhood memory that bubbled up to the surface after so many years. After the game, my friend and I (let’s call my friend Ken, since that’s his name), did what millions of folks have done after games through the ages: waited in an unmoving

Taking the week off. See you next Monday!

I'm not a novelist, or writer of fictional short stories. I find it difficult to piece together all the characters, plots and scenes throughout a longer piece and make it interesting. But I do often come up with short vignettes, what I like to call "first scenes" of what could be a longer story. This is one of them. It's short, and it lacks context, but it came to me this morning ... from where, I have no idea. Anyway, enjoy. ***** I sat alone, smoking a cigarette, my first i