Doug stepped out of his apartment building door, leaving the handle down so he wouldn't have to use his keys to re-enter. He strolled out on to the sidewalk and looked up and down his urban block. He lived on the edge of a nice neighborhood but close to a few industrial warehouses. Usually nobody passed by during his 10-minute sessions, and he hoped that would be the case tonight.
Doug dug into his pocket and pulled out his battered pack of cigarettes. Flipping open the lid, he saw a good six or seven white filters peering back at him. He slid one out and brought it to his lips, letting it hang there while he crammed the pack back into his pocket. Groping past the key ring in his other pocket, he fished out a lighter.
Doug flicked the starter and drew in a breath, bringing the flame to the cigarette. It caught immediately, and he pulled on it deeply. It had been a long day at work, and since he worked nights, it was almost 2:30 a.m. Doug exhaled a cloud of smoke and watched it drift away.
A few minutes passed. Doug puffed on the cigarette, idly watching the traffic light change down the block, noticing how the colors reflected off the car windshields around him, refracting into shining, twisting stars of light. He shuffled around in his flip-flops, traversing a space that extended about 15 feet to either side of his front door.
A thought about the day at work entered his mind halfway through the smoke. He cocked his head, looking down the block at nothing as he played an interaction over in his head. He didn't notice the man approaching him from behind until the footsteps shook him from his reverie.
Doug turned around in mild alarm. A man of medium height in a beat-up brown leather jacket and dark jeans stopped in front of him. The man was black with a shaved head and a scraggly beard.
"Hey man, I'm not homeless or anything," the man said in a gravelly voice, "but do you think I could bum a smoke?"
Doug considered it a moment before reaching into his pocket and grabbing the pack.
"Yeah, sure, man," he said, his throat catching a bit. He was always a little nervous talking to strangers in late-night situations like this. You never knew who you were talking to.
Doug opened the pack, slid a stick out and handed it to the man, who took it. The man gestured that he didn't have a lighter, and Doug pulled his out and handed it to him too. Doug noticed his big, weathered but not unsightly hands. The man lit his cigarette, the light revealing a set of tired but decidedly sane eyes.
He handed the lighter back.
"Oh thanks man," he said, sighing and exhaling smoke. Doug drew on his own cigarette; he was reaching the last quarter. "I needed one of these fuckers."
"Totally, man," Doug said. The man smiled at him.
"My name is James. I won't bother you too much man, just gonna suck this down."
"Hey James, I'm Doug," Doug nodded toward him.
They stood in silence for a moment as Doug got close to the end of his cigarette. He made a moved toward the sidewalk and flicked the butt into the street. He walked back to James and started toward his apartment building door.
"All right man, take care, enjoy that," Doug said amiably enough. "Ok thanks again," James said. Doug reached for the door handle when he heard James turn around. "I'm sorry to bother you, man, but do you have some change or dollar or something?"
Doug suspected this was coming from their first interaction. He was used to saying "No" to panhandlers and beggars on the streets and the subway, but sometimes he relented, and he would have done so here. Unfortunately he didn't have any change on him. It occurred to him that he had about 75 cents in quarters up on the desk in his apartment. Even that bit of exertion would usually result in a "No," but what the hell. He could run up and better this guy's night.
"Yeah sure man," Doug said, turning around to face James. James' eyes were down, he was clearly embarrassed about asking for handouts. "I don't have anything on me, but let me run up and grab something. It's not a lot, but I'm glad to give it to you."
"Oh thank you," James said, his face brightening. "Thanks so much."
"Hang on." Doug opened the door, closed it behind him with the latch up and quickly ascended the stairs to his second-story apartment. His roommates were asleep, and Doug ducked into his room, flicked the light on and snatched the pile of change. A wild concept floated into his mind as he closed his apartment door behind him. By the time he got back to the front door, a more complete, though crazy idea had formed.
He opened the wooden door, and beckoned James into the brightly lit but grungy lobby of his building. James entered slowly, and Doug saw that he was indeed weathered, but not dirty. His clothes were in decent shape, but it was clear he had fallen on some hard times. Doug took a breath.
"I got about a buck in change here. Do you think you could do me a favor in exchange for it?"
"Yeah man, for sure, what do you need," James asked.
Doug was not usually smooth or confident, but something about the power dynamic between the two men gave him a surge of adrenaline.
"Could I see your cock?"
"What'd you say?" James exclaimed in surprise. "You fuckin' kidding me?"
Doug suddenly regretted taking advantage of this man and stuck out his hand to offer the change.
"I'm sorry man, you can just take it," he said. "Have a good night, I'm sorry."
James took the change and turned to go but stopped midway.
"Ah fuck it, you wanna see my cock, I'll show you."