The newcomer was whacking the old tape player with a little brush. That's all the newcomer had been doing with his free time since arrival two weeks ago. Strange behavior, Sanderson thought. You got three hours of freedom a day. Why spend it whacking some arcane

Technology

?

Wouldn't it be better to do something more fun? Like... 

Sanderson couldn't think of that more fun thing that would at the same time be more meaningful than whacking the old tape player with a little broom. What did the rest of them do during their free hours? Drink beer. Play video games. Jack off to 

TikTok

.

Sanderson thought maybe the newcomer was onto something. He had wanted to ask what the purpose of it all was. But he was too afraid to ask.

Each time the little brush hit the tape player dust spewed out into the air. The amount of dust was less now than when the newcomer arrived.

Hey, newcomer said.

Hey, Sanderson said before taking a sip of his lite beer.

What you doing, Sanderson thought in his head, but didn't say. He took more sips of 

beer

as newcomer continued whacking.

Sanderson never felt awkward watching the newcomer whack the tape player. That's what he liked about him. He didn't give a shit if you watched him. He kept doing his thing. Sanderson could watch and think what he wanted. Not feel judged. Damn he missed home. He wondered what his friends were doing back there. Fuck that. He didn't care about his old friends. He only cared about one of them now. That's what distance did. Made you realize what you cared about. Not many things or people it turned out. For the few that remained, you cared immensely.

Steve. He missed Steve. Wondered what the hell he was up to. Steve was the smartest friend. He should've really went to college. But stayed home because of that girlfriend. Bad news. That's what Sanderson always called her. Hopefully they were no longer together. Sanderson wished.

Something was off. The room was too quiet.

Newcomer turned his head with glee. Well I think it's finally ready!

What is that?

Newcomer didn't reply.  Put an unmarked tape into the player. It reminded Sanderson of a tape he and Steve used to listen to. The player shut close. And then a sound came on.