My friend Jeremy and I had skipped school to drive up to Chicago to catch the show on a last minute whim. After chilling in the lots for a few hours, we decided to enter the show. Bringing along our pot and a piece, we decided we were set for a great show. 

The first set was incredible, and Jeremy and I were ripped. Stumbling to locate another seat, I got a little winded. We finally found two empty seats on the isle about 4 rows up from the floor. Sitting down, cotton mouth had started to kick my ass, and the trek to our new seats had left me VERY thirsty. My mouth started to dry up and my lips were cracking. 

I tried to ignore it, but I couldn't even open my mouth because I was so parched. I wanted desperately to get up and get some water, but the lines were very long.  We didn't want to loose our seats, and I didn't have $3 to spend on water. Sitting in agony, I watched as people walked up and down the isles with soda and water. I couldn't forget about it, as hard as I tried.

 "Oh, if I only had some water," I thought. Then, in an attempt to sneak onto the floor, some dude was knocked on the ground by a bouncer. And while being escorted out of the Horizon (Allstate), he knocked into someone, spilling their ice water all over the steps. I couldn't resist, and I picked up an ice cube off the floor and stuck it in my mouth!  

Noticing what I had done, a kind friend stopped and asked me what I was doing. Looking up from where I was kneeling on the steps with a dirty ice cube in my mouth, I pried my lips apart and replied, "Oh my god... I am just soooo thirsty!" Kneeling down to me, he handed me his bottled water and said, "well, sister...then by all means, drink this."  He handed me his $3 bottle of Aqua Fina that he had waited in line all intermission for and told me I could have it. 

As I unscrewed the cap and desperately chugged this poor man's water, he rubbed my back. When I was finished, I thanked him and stood up. He gave me a hug, flashed me a smile, and walked away, never telling me his name. Jeremy and I watched him walk down the stairs, watching where he might go so we could maybe smoke with him after the show to repay him. But right when he walked down two or three stairs towards the floor, the lights came back up for the second set, and he disappeared into the sea of bodies on the floor. 

I haven't seen him again at another show, though I'm not sure I would even recognize him anyway. Thanks a bunch, dude. You saved my show.

-Jenni Jones*