The players are, Mark, Kenji, Blue and me. With special guest appearances by my twin, and a lot of Brooklyn.

As I sat at the Union Square Barnes & Nobles’ café I couldn’t help but notice the cute DC female sitting at the table to the north-left of me. She sat with some random dude who was discussing something in regards to what she could try to do. Her cute little afro was held together with a hair band, which made it stick out mainly in the back.

I noticed that she held a book I had recently finished reading-- Interpreter of Maladies; and I mouthed by accident to her that “I read it”. She noticed me and I went back to my negative organizing.

It happened after she left. My eyes followed her as she disappeared into the escalators. The lights began to flicker and then everything stopped. While I walked down the frozen escalators, my first thought was that the bookstore had shorted itself out. My exit proved otherwise as businesses to the right and left of me were missing bright lights.

My next move was finding some people I know and find out what was going, so I headed the Source office building, which had already begun filtering out its residents. The over-priced deli next door began selling water even as their space resembled a dark cave.

I found Blue, who like many of the employees had gone out for lunch and returned to streets steadily filling up with confused people. After standing around aimlessly listening to people’s conversations about what they “heard” was going down, I followed Blue up the stairs and into the office. Eleven floors later, and I realize I am somewhat out of shape. But unlike Blue, I didn’t need to take a breather at the seventh floor.

The office was still packed with employees, including Mark, who upon discussion decided to take the walk to the Brooklyn Bridge. Before leaving I called Pops, who as usual was calm as a quiet storm. Joined by Queens inhabitants Blue and I, the Atlanta native headed downtown under my directions.

I cursed my cell phone service because it was coming in and out as a result of communication issues.

The journey to Brooklyn was simple albeit hot, long and crowded. “Regular” folks were helping to direct traffic with all the signals being out; Lots of eye candy braved the long walks; and my lack of a camera was apparent as photographers were out in full force shooting.

It was nightfall by the time we passed Clinton Hill, and reached Kenji’s crib in Bed-Stuy. Before our arrival, we had stopped off at a bodega to get some water and people were out, candles were lit, and grills were cooking meat before it spoiled. Some people got smoked out, Blue fell asleep, and we proceeded to venture out into Fort Greene that same night.

We woke up Friday, and my back felt the effects of sleeping on the hard ass sofa/futon. Kenji once again remarked sarcastically, “Well, another day with power, guys,” as he turned on the one portable radio he owned. Parts of Manhattan and New York State already had power. We speculated that the “with money” parts were getting power first. (Turns out my friend in Brooklyn Heights had power at 3 am, Friday morning.)

Once again all four of us, this time, descended to downtown. My twin was on Fulton at a café with two cute female friends of his who my people happened to know also. My twin offered his camera after hearing I was with out one since the beginning of the blackout. What i got was a point and shoot since his slr’s battery was depleted.

In Brooklyn Heights businesses were bustling, people were waiting on line for the movie theater to open again *snicker*, and we ate pizza and ice cream.

To make a long story a bit shorter. We walked back to Bed-Stuy; the power was back on; we watched Cody Banks on DVD; and me and Blue went to Queens by bus since train service needed to be prepped for a couple of hours first.