conversation with a friend

Sitting on my balcony watching the lights blink back and forth at each other, the cars whiz silently by on invisible strips of blacktop. To my left my friend says something, I don’t really know what but I grunt at appropriate times; I catch the highlights. Moment of silence, I puff my cigarillo, watch the smoke drift away… I say something, not really thinking about it, just conversing. Music plays in the background, I can hear the neighbors playing rock band and I smile. I finish my scotch, I have long ago finished my cigarillo. My friend continues with his discussion of people, I nod and laugh at something he has just said. A moment passes where nothing is said, I say something, he agrees… Soon it begins to rain, I say it’s getting cold and rainy, let’s go inside. Inside we just sit some more without talking and listen to music. My friend goes home and I sit down to type this…