The heat was absolutely unbearable that day, and Jesse would’ve much preferred smoking inside, in the comfort of an air-conditioned room. However, there he was, on the front porch, literally melting under the scorching sun, sweating in places he didn’t know he had, but it was worth it, because he was on a mission.

The next-door neighbor stepped outside, and he tried his best to look nonchalant.

“Oh, hi,” he remarked casually, as if the run-in was totally accidental and he hadn’t been timing it for the past couple of days.