Last Conversation of 2009

"Where are you going?" I ask as Lee grabs his coat.

"It's garbage night tonight. I'm just going to take the cans out," he replies.

I glance at the clock. 11:45 PM, New Year's Eve. "Ok, but I want you safely back inside by 11:55 at the latest."

Resigned to my weird whims by now, Lee doesn't argue. But he does want to know "why?"

"You know this neighborhood. The bullets will start to fly right around midnight. So be back before then."

HAPPY NEW YEAR!