[Intro] [fingerpicked acoustic guitar arpeggio in G major] [male voice speaking] Well, I was, it was 1997. I was in college for advertising graphic design. [second male voice] (Two days later.) (Catch you later.) (Come out.) So, I was in, I was taking advertising graphic design and, you know, the art classes are incredibly long. I mean, you know, you know you got two hours figure study, two hours still life, you know, two hours of photography. You know what I'm talking about. So we was, we was taking off for lunch after two hours figure study. All right. And a buddy of mine named Paul, we used to, we'd get off class and go out on the, in front of the doors that went into the building that was covered. And we'd smoke. And we'd decide what we was going to do for lunch because lunch was like two hours, an hour and a half, two hours. Okay. And so we usually we went and get Chinese or something. We'd take turns paying, you know what I mean, you know how it is in college. [second male voice] (Mm-hmm.) And so we was going to get, I wanted to get buffet, Chinese buffet. He decided no, I want to go home. I want to go home. Why don't you come home with me? We'll have sandwiches. Okay. You know, I only live in a trailer 15 minutes from here. I didn't realize that he was hitting on me, okay, really. I'm kind of dim. [second male voice] (You're like that? Well, I'm, I'm a baddie, you a baddie, bro. I got you.) Okay, so I didn't, I didn't understand that he was hitting on me and so, no, I'm going to stay here. I, I really want some Chinese and you go ahead. Well, he went on. I did everything, I begged him, you know, that I'd pay for the meal and everything. But he went on. So I go eat my Chinese food and come back in about 40 minutes. Stand around outside smoking, go in the class, listen to music, waiting. He doesn't show up, he doesn't show up. And so I go back outside. And I'm smoking by myself because, and the teacher said, you know, class has been delayed for half an hour and I said okay. So he closed the door and goes back in. And then behind me I hear the door again and here was Paul. And he was, where he stood there and he sat down on the bench. He says, hey man, can I bum a smoke? Like he always did. I took a cigarette out of my pack and I handed it directly to him. He said, hey, can you light this? I forgot my lighter. I said, of course, of course I'll do that. I lit his cigarette. And I, I lit mine and I, I leaned up against the pole looking in the opposite direction away from him up the hill. And he was, he said, now I'm slow, okay. And he says, you know, I want to thank you. You've been a good friend. I, I really appreciate all your help, helping me learn how to draw and you've made me feel welcome here and everything. And I don't want you to think this was your fault. And I'm like, what? And I'm about to turn around and I hear the sound of what sounds like a balloon pop. And air moving. And he's gone and the door opens and somebody tells me the art teacher wants me to come in the class right now. So I go in there and sit down and he said, he said, an hour and a half ago, Paul was decapitated by a runaway tractor-trailer going down the mountain. And he's dead. [guitar fades out]
