We left Charlie that evening after convincing him he should pursue the hefty woman he’d been eyeing, the one clad in gold stretch pants. We all waited until she went to the bathroom, which gave Charlie the opportunity to take the seat next to hers, which he did, ordering them both two new beers. Days old cigarette smoke, ACDC, and the smell of spilt beer followed us out of the bar and into the lot, filling the car, all the way back to my house. At least that part of Lubbock you can wash off in the shower. Just a bar of soap.

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