16 Tons

Jim cleared his throut and reached into this pocket as he started down the ally. The night was cold and wet. You never saw it rain in this city, but everything was always wet. The only illumination was coming from the detestable neon lights that filled down town streets. Jim paused at a cross ally way and lend against the wall as he lit his cigarette. He blow the smoke straight up and out as he looked at where the stars should be. The filth and pollution of the city made a cloud that blocked out the stars and darkened the sun. Sure the day was brighter but not by much. Jim had read a few old books on stars; about how people use to worship them and such. "Well looks like we have blocked out your gods dear fellows, and ours also." Jim pushed himself off the wall and continued down towards the street. He squinted upon reaching it for the neon harlots where blinding. Jim continued his Sojourn passing broken men and drunken women. This city was a mess of dead and dying. Living her long enough made one apathitic. Jim did care to much about the human conditoin, at least not here, cause here he had a job.

Standing outside in his dirty old duster letting the water drip on him from the neon sign Jim looked at the doors and watched the people entering. Jim dropped his cigarette and crushed it with his toe. "Here we go, lets see what I got for them tonight." Jim went in thought the front, he was told all the time not to but he didn't care. This was his place and these people came to see him. Working his way into the back he stopped at the betting table to see the odds. Not good, not good at all. Jim had become a fighter by chance and never really liked the idea. Some women sell their body's for money when times get hard, well Jim was doing just that but in a different way. This would be Jim's third real fight. First didn't go so well, second was none the better. What ever luck Jim thought he had tonight left when he saw the other guy.