Shivering and shaking, the natural state of a junkie going on hours, even minutes without a hit. Paranoia and desperation, keys to the kingdom of madness and eternal scratching. The scratching is endless. That and the cold. Pay no mind to the cold. The cold bears itself.
Every now and then a simple advertisement pops up to hold onto a corner of a publication such as a free street mag or the columned section of a newspaper. In these little calls for the wild, they offer the small and enticing sum of a mere $40—or thereabouts—in exchange for the thoughts and reactions of those with a finer eye for veins than rookie med students.
Not wanting to be seen as a place for junkies to score funds for their next hit, they proclaim that the fee paid is for the travel expense in getting to the location of observation. A windfall for those frequenting the doorstops of public places asking for a few silver coloured coins. The same who have no problems parting the gates in a hurried state of escape.
Seeing a need to also contact those with a more stable mind, a few of these researchers have taken to hitting the old stable of their databases in the hopes of scoring a hit with a home owner, sane, at home during the day and with a working phone. The results of which may not be totally accurate given that a few hundred or so on occasion do enjoy partaking in phone polls for that audible interaction and whispered monotonous questioning.
Written on Monday, 21 April 2003