Jeb was awakened by a tick ridden hound lifted his leg. "What the Hell? I an it no fire hydrant. Get yous gone old dog. Damn, a man can't even get a goodnights sleep anymore without being harassed by vermin." Jeb stretched his back, uncurled his arms and stood up. Bright morning sun was shining through the trellis. This light illuminated Jeb's living area. The ally were he slept was a typical almost generic big city design. Tin dumpcans were scattered about the narrow corridor, the dilapidated brick buildings on either side swayed with every gust of the wind. "Mother of Shit, it's cold." Jeb kicked an empty bottle of Ripple that had been his dinner last night."Yeah doggy I am hungry. I think I'll strut down to Denny's and check out the viddles that them whities throw away...." Jeb found his way out of the alley on to the main street in downtown Knoxville. The streets were busy with lunch hour traffic. The sounds sirens and car horns filled the air. "Another day in the big ugly town. I shoulds have never come down South. Now Harlem was a real city. Big tits, nice round asses and that sweat soulful music leaking out of every bar in the borough. Speaking of Bars what say you Jeb to have a midmorning cap down at the Luck Eight." Jeb often talked to himself. It was his way of confirming that he was still alive and , if not well, at least breathing.
As Jeb rounded the corner to just before the Lucky Eight bar and grill he noticed his part time friend and full time drinking buddy leaning against the blinking sign titled COLD BEER SOLD HERE."Ernie looks like you got "Lucky" before me. Damn, you look how I feel." Ernie was slumped heavily against the brick build. His faded Korean trenched coat was wrapped around his swollen body. Ernie smelled like puke and piss, one of his finer qualities.