As a kid, I would wake up, and there'd be a jazz funeral while I'm walking to school. And when I come home, you can find Rebirth band playing for a birthday party the same day.

I was put on a pony as a kid at some birthday party when you're all led around.

It's a bit like your own birthday party. There's a moment at around 2 a.m. when you just want everybody to go home. But the next morning when you're alone with nothing to do but clean up the empty bottles, you miss them.

You always get a special kick on opening day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you're a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen.

Abby touched her palm to my cheek. "You know what, Mr. Maddox?"
"What, baby?"
Her expression turned serious.
"In another life, I could love you."
I watched her for a moment, staring into her glassed over eyes. She was drunk, but just for a moment it didn't seem wrong to pretend that she meant it.
"I might love you in this one.

We wanted it to be very kid-like and birthday party-ish.