Burger Blast is all fries, vinegar, windows, and chrome, with a long counter and a few tables. I order before remembering I don’t have even a lousy cent on me. So, instead of waiting for my food, I head for the can hoping they’ll forget about me. I’m feeling kind of fractured since getting out of the car. The floor slants down to the left, but I’m okay if I lean a bit to the right. I take a piss, then go into a stall, sit with my eyes closed for a while. That scrambles my stomach so I get back up, splash water on my face, and slip out again. The floor seems to be slanting the other way now.

The boys aren't in the restaurant. Five girls gab away at a table across the room. A plump one whose hair reminds me of a pineapple looks over at me. She says something and then all the girls take a peek my way. I wave, cool-like. They burst into laughter. 

I call, “Floor’s tilted!” figuring that’ll explain everything. Then, while I’m checking that my zipper’s up, the man behind the counter says, “Hey, Red! Your order’s ready.”

“Ooops. I’ll be back.” I nod then slide out to the parking lot. In the fuzzy, white light from Burger Blast’s window, I see everybody on the far side of the lot. Donny’s talking to four guys who have their backs to me. Maybe Geoff will give me a few fries. I head toward him, weaving around a parked car then using the white lines on the pavement to help navigate.

As I get closer, Donny shakes his head. I can’t hear anything over the sound of passing cars until I’m almost in front of Geoff’s table. Then one of the four guys says, “We know you fuckin’ cheated us.”

Donny smiles. “No, man. You’ve got me wrong.”