third rate in the tropics

I recently read a short story by Andrew Martin and was delighted by how precise he was in describing early, tumultuous, sloppy relationships from within the criss-crossing brains of his protagonists. This prompted me to buy a used copy of Early Work published in 2018, which did not disappoint. It took me back to my roller coaster 20s, with every day and every night lived on a dangerous knife’s edge, with quickly evolving emotions, actions sometimes to be regretted, and sudden escapes often needed. Working on different shifts in a couple, or toward different goals can always create an imbalance, as it does in the life of Peter Cunningham, often stoned and drunk, illegally streaming sports, teaching classes at a local women’s prison, walking his needy dog, and living without much of any ideological, financial or spiritual constraints besides a love of high art. Meeting an adventurer with even more recklessness and repartee than he has, who additionally has more wherewithal to