INTERNET—A tech reporter for a spammy e-news site is elated with the clever title he came up with for a recent post. He recounted the tale of creating, “Watch out iPad: Even indirect Fire can cook Apples” to pals at a local dive-bar. 

“I was just getting some coffee when that gem of a title came to me,” the 20-something told friends for the 58th time that evening. “I mean, I know I’m a smart guy, but sometimes the muse chooses you—you know what I mean?” 

His friends, now questioning their loyalty, nodded heads and rolled eyes in unison.

“I think he’s always talked like this,” one man told another while the tech reporter was in the bathroom. “I mean, where’d he even come from? He just started hanging out one day.” 

The reporter returned from the bathroom to find his friends had left without him. 

“They were wasted,” he rationalized. “They must have just blacked-out and forgot to tell me they were leaving.” 

The bar was beginning to thin and the tech reporter attempted to look around casually without seeming desperate. The bartender stood far-enough away to discourage the reporter from ordering another drink. He polished a wine glass for the better part of five minutes before the reporter got up and walked out—mumbling to himself about the service. 

“That guy is in here all the time,” the bartender said. “He tips like shit and no one likes him.” 

The streets were empty and it had begun to drizzle. The reporter could be seen through the window looking frantically for a cab while checking his phone.

“Lock the door,” the bartender said to the doorman, turning to dim the lights.  

The night was over. Water from the wash-sinks flowed out onto the floor, bursting from an over-committed drain like a miniature fire hydrant. One of the servers poured herself a beer. The reporter, outside, used his free hand to shield the phone from rain as he looked over his shoulder at the darkened bar.