Window open. Ceiling fan turns slowly. The cat crawls out of bed with him.

It’s two in the morning. He sits in darkness. The toilet runs.

On 24th Street, it is quiet. Some noise from 8th and 9th. Taxis. City bus. Drunks walking home. The cat purrs.

He sits at the folding card table in a metal chair, taking it all in. He takes a sip of yesterday’s coffee from a mug, which reads, I ❤️  NYC. The heavy man stirs with his finger and licks it. The cat takes a sip, too.

There’s jazz on the radio coming from New Jersey. Ramsey Lewis plays The In Crowd. He sings the words in a soft voice. I’m in with the in crowd….I’m in with the in crowd….the cat meows.

He smiles. The cat jumps on his shoulder and rubs against his gray hair. They are both happy.