It's four-thirty, and I've already been waiting. The streets are still slick with rain. My breath hangs in the icy air. In the corner, there's a puddle of vomit.

A shutter opens, and the station man appears. First train is in twelve minutes, but I'm already late. Hours earlier, I had prepped: new notepad, new felt-tip pen, keitai, digicam and charged batteries. With the demand for the DS Lite at fever pitch here in Japan, I was going to camp-out. To ensure that I snagged a unit for the contest, I had no choice. Then, the unthinkable happened. My son got sick.

Between cold compresses and coughing fits, I missed the last train and had to wait until the first one at 4:42, which I am waiting for now. The platform is vacant, save for me and an old woman. While the train approaches, I do a quick spot check.

Notebook: Check
Felt-tip: Check
Keitai: Check
Digicam: Check
Digicam Batteries:

The train pulls to a halt, but I'm already hopping the ticket wickets, sounding the alarm. I run and run back to my apartment, press the elevator button, jam the key in the lock and throw open the door. I do a quick scan of the living room. Batteries still in the charging cradle. Grabbing them, I bolt out the door. My heart is in my throat as I race back to the station. I'm late.

DS Lite [Official Site]

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