Fred leaves tomorrow at 10:00. They only get a hundred bucks a show, 15 shows in 3 weeks, and there are seven of them in the band, who all need to eat, and a place to sleep.

"I'm sorry," he said, after I interrupted practice. "I'm kind of off in my own head. It happens sometimes. You'll have to forgive me."

As if he hadn't already been forgiven for everything he ever did.

October 21,

2002