DUNCAN BLITZ AT 5AM

The phone rang at 5AM, waking Duncan Blitz. Night calls meant work, not worry. But it was a long time since Duncan had freelanced, and the long wait of a long distance connection scared him. Something went wrong in China. “hello?” Wrong number.

Duncan fumbled the phone into its cradle and went back to sleep, shaking.

The worst thing about being old, Duncan’s mom told him, is that your friends die. Moody died and Zannes died. Duncan’s mom died too, and Duncan’s dad. Then Hal died. Holly was in a clinical trial, and Jeff was getting ready for an ordeal designed to save his life.

Duncan Blitz thought: I think my hair is thinning.

MOOD MENDER TEA:
Put two long slices of fresh ginger in a mug of water and nuke 1 min 11 sec.
sip.

MOOD MENDER MUSIC:
MOZART
Piano and violin sonatas