A big man and a smaller man were in the top floor bar of the Metropolis Trade Center, sharing shots and arguing good-naturedly about - well, nature.

"Don' believe it," slurred the smaller man.

"Sure! I done it a buncha times!"

"Nah. The wind ain't gonna blow you back up here if you jump off the balcony. I seen than one on Myth Busters last month."

The tall man stumbled from his stool and pulled his companion to the edge of the balcony. "You shtay right here. Be right back."

Before the smaller man could grab his inebriated companion, the larger man jumped. He plummeted down to about the twenty-fourth floor before gently reversing direction and drifting back up to the balcony.

As he landed - on one knee and both hands - the tall man laughed. "Man, what a rush! Your turn!"

The smaller man, completely bald and sneering slightly through his alcohol-induced haze, nodded loosely. "Awright. You can do it, I can do it."

"Thass th' spirit! Just jump over right there."

The smaller man stepped over the rail and did a perfect swan dive - until he realized he wasn't slowing down. His pinwheeling scream cut off as he splattered against the sidewalk.

The tall man waddled back to the bar and shouted, "Gimme another bottle! I wanna celebrate!"

The bartender set the bottle on the bar and stepped back. "You know, you sure sure do make a mean drunk, Superman."


Life isn't a support system for writing. It's the other way around.

- Stephen King, from On Writing