I fell asleep rather early last night, but then woke up a short time later because the apartment was just … too … quiet. Our teleivison was off, the fan and ac were still. The other three people in the apartment were gathered in a small huddle in the living room passing our flashlights. Ben handed me one. “Flashlights? Dude it’s midnight.” He extends it further. “Just take it, in case something happens.” Yes, in case the bad man runs up off the streets, past the gates, and up three stories to our inconveniently located apartment building, and pillages our plunder, reaping the benefits of a late-night Mesa rampage. He speaks again, eyes meeting mine in a serious notion. “Dude, have you seen the news? There are bad people out.”

I am worried, for apparently our door locks run on power, and without electricity, we are screwed.

“Oh.”

I step out on the patio and watch rain and lightning pour down on our little corner of east Mesa, and cars drive by full of ignorants, who decide that now is the time to leave their apartment complex for a Vodka run to Walgreens.

I fall back asleep, but damn, it is humid. Sleep well, Mesa and you in your cars.