Back in high school he had a friend who he had such a sacred tv as well. They wouldn't keep it on ESPN though. They would have movies or something on. The content didn't matter so much so long as the TV itself was on and there was noise coming out. Actually scratch that. The noise had to be some sort of consistent variety. Some movies would be too quiet and then abruptly too loud.
Cartoons and Disney channel fit the bill right. A consistent stream of sounds that injected some joviality into the room as they did whatever it was they did. Lay on the couch talking. Texting once in a while. Back then the phones were simpler. Less features. Less sucking you in.
His high school friend and he bonded over this sacred
TV
ritual. They had both been doing the TV ritual back at home independently. One day though when he was over at his friend's for a sleepover he had noticed that he kept the TV on but wasn't watvhing.
"Oh yeah. That? I just like having it on. I'll just be in the house and it's nice to have it on."