"Dude, where've you been? Whassup?!"
"Oh. Ha. Yeah. I got a job and a daily commute again. Fortunately, the new gig is on the Westside, in Beverly Hills. It's not so bad, 35 minutes door-to-door. I'm going to use this time to learn Japanese in the car. I like leaving the house for work but I don't like having to...I don't know, brush my hair and look sharp. Everyone in my building wears a power suit. People actually dry clean their clothes. It's like Wall Street, but instead of moving stocks, they move people. I'm still wearing trainers and t-shirts. I'm trying to figure out how much longer I can get away with this."
"For real? What are you doing?"
"Same thing. Hustling. But now, I'm backed by a respected baller. I bounce ideas off my work mate. I talk a lot. A lot. A lot. I'm learning tons about old school entertainment -- TV and film. And I'm passing on a little knowledge about youth culture, videogames, and new media."
"So how's it going?"
"Today my boss bought me the Hansen's Strawberry-Kiwi soda and fruit roll-ups that I requested. I have a fancy magnetic card that allows me to access our penthouse offices. I'm in a room with no windows. But I'm going to make it my own soon. I have a parking pass for our garage (filled with European wheels and loads of Lexi). I ride in the elevator with powerful strangers. The all look down at their blackberries while I stare at their haircuts and shoes. I'm getting a new cellphone/Blackberry on Saturday. No. Seriously. I'm so frugal and my cellphone's sooo old, it doesn't even allow for text messaging. It's a whole new world. But at the same time, I was here ten years ago. I love my new gig."
