"Hey dude, how's it hanging?"
John Bender looked up, to see Joe approaching. Joe was like him - drifting through his childhood, stuck between violence at home and oppressive discipline at school. Quickly he stuffed his reading matter back in his coat.
"You know - same shit, different day. You headed anywhere?"
Joe looked around, and unconsciously scratched the back of his neck.
"Pete's back from the country today. Thought I'd drop in and see what he might have bought back. I fancy some smokes. You?"
"Maybe later. Gotta do some stuff first."
Joe shrugged, and shuffled off down the hill towards the railway tracks and the homes beyond. Alone again, John pulled out the copy of Hustler, and opened it to the center pages. Nestled there, one corner folded down, was a battered copy of Keruoak's On The Road. With a final glance around, he settled down to read...