stanley, syd, and dina walked into the crowded basement, a haze over the room from the smoke and heat of teenagers. they drank and chattered with each other, as dina led her way to where a band of a couple of people he had seen in school stood, plugging in wires and tuning instruments. stan stayed quiet but focused his attention on the one that seemed to be the lead singer. he watched dina and the singer chat for a moment, not realizing she had introduced stan to them, before ushering them away.