These days he woke up early. He'd made his money on a different schedule. Late night studio sessions that didn't end until morning. Going on the road and performing in front of crowds. It didn't matter if those shows ended at 10 or 11. By the time you got back to the hotel you couldn't fall asleep right away. He'd usually drink and have something to smoke with the crew. Sometimes he'd spend the night with a girl.

The crew was running thin these days. Most of them had families now and didn't have time for the road. Chubbs wss still around, but most of the security were now professionals rather than friends.

That's probably why he backed off the tour life. The energy of the crowds still got him high. But all the time between shows wore him out. Was it because he no longer had his crew with him? Was he just getting old? Who knew.

He'd start mornings slow. A few cappuchinos. Walking around enjoying the view. Right now the leaves were turning. He liked to take this all in. For a decade he couldn't take it in in his home town. gave his life to the road. Things were different now though.

The phone rang. It was the rotary. Only one person had the number to it. He had known this call would come sooner than later. He knew what it meant. Still, he was nervous to answer. There was something substantial about picking up a physical handle. He'd taken so many phones on the iphone... just tapping a circle on the screen. But this physical handle on the rotary. This was something else.

"Yeah?"

A familiar voice told him all the info he had been expecting. It then explained how it would go down.

"Okay." he said and put the receiver down.

After a sigh he went back to his cup and walked over to the window. He would be going back on the road again. This time not for shows but something else. Something much more dangerous. Across the border and to the coast. The west coast. He wished it didn't have to be like this.

The 

cappuccino

was still just warm enough to enjoy. He remembered that he had forgotten to take his two magnesium pills the night before. Staring out the window he wondered if he'd make it back before winter was in full swing. He wondered if he would make it back at all.