He drove around the city more. About 60 percent of it was out of power from what he could tell. It excited him in a way. A mini
apoclypse
. He kept checking his phone to see if Max had tried contacting him. Nothing yet. Nobody. He hadn't gotten a call or text in months. The only thing he received was spam messages about buying real estate addressed to a name "Jane".
"Hi Jane! Got a house you might love on 3832 Bridge St. Give me a text if you want to set up a call."
Who was Jane, Keith wondered. And why were people texting him thinking his name was that. And why houses? Obviously someone must've used his phone number when signing up for some newsletter or some service. Put in a name Jane as the fake name associated with the -- to them -- fake phone number. But the fake phone number was real for him.
Once back at the apartment he sat down at the coffee table. Hunched over touching his pocket knife. Remembered that dark room with the hushed tones of the people at the cafe. Max offering him a lukewarm cup of coffee.
Keith unlocked his phone. 99 % battery. And he texted the newly added contact: Max.
"Got power yet?"
"No" a response came. "hbu?"
"Not yet. How are you holding up?"
"not great tbh. i'm worried about my food."
"I got some extra bags of ice. Bought too much for myself. You want me to swing by?"
Keith brought over all his bags of ice. His power was still there. Plus if the power went out he didn't mind losing the meat. He had enough money to last him over a year so losing his food wasn't a big deal. Max probably needed his food. Keith checked the grocery store on the way to Max's. The ice was nearly down all the way to the bottom. Soon there would be none left. Thankfully they hadn't jacked up the prices.
When he arrived at Max's house he saw a sweatier version of the Max he usually knew. He was fanning himself with some junk mail.
"Sorry, it's really hot in here."
"Yeah no worries. Here's some ice for you."
"Come in." Max waved. " Or don't. Since you know it's hot. It's up to you. What I mean is you don't have to be a stranger."
Keith followed Max in.
"I'd usually offer you something. But I don't know what I could make you without any electricity."
"You're okay."
They shoved the ice into the freezer. Shut the door quick.
"You should take anything you're okay parting with out of the fridge. Keep all the stuff you want to save together in the freezer. And you don't want to keep opening that door. Keep it shut and the ice and the food will last longer."
The two of them sat down at Max's dining table. It was littered with old
junk mail
. Keith didn't think it was so hot. Maybe because he had just come from his place. Maybe if he spent a few hours in here then he would get hot.
"Do you think you're going to be okay through the night?"
"Wait, you think this isn't going to be fixed by tonight?"
"I just got a text from IGS. It said they wouldn't be providing an estimate until tomorrow morning. 7:30."
"Fuck! That means it won't be fixed until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest."
Keith nodded.
Max leaned back in the chair. Tilted his head towards the ceiling.
"You know? My parents live only an hour from here. I could just drive there if I wanted."
"Are you going to do that?"
"I will. If this doesn't get fixed by tomorrow night. Maybe. I don't know."
"Why not go there now?"
"Technically because I still have to work tomorrow."
"Did the diner not just close down until this is fixed?"
"We don't know if we're going to be open or closed tomorrow."
"Mm." Keith felt the head and humidity begin to creep into him.
"To be honest, I don't want to go to my parents. I just want the power to come back here."