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"So ... Write anything lately?" Jessica asked after their final tennis game.  She'd won the match.  Again.

"No," Darren retorted, wiping the sweat from his brow.  "I just don't get it.  I mean, you remember high school.  You couldn't get me to stop writing!"

"I know.  How many times did I have to drag you away from your computer just to see a movie or something."  They packed up their gear and headed back toward his apartment.

Darren exhaled in frustration.  He knew the ideas were in his brain, waiting to come out, but since he'd moved into the city, nothing would come to the surface.  They turned the corner and slipped into the corner store for a pair of drinks; Mountain Dew for him, Snapple for her.

"You know, I was reading online about his visualization technique
that ..." Jessica started, cut off by Darren's raised hand.

"I read that too ... It didn't work either," he said a bit harshly.  Pausing, he turned to her and apologized.  "I just don't know what I'm doing wrong.  Nothing works.  Even the stuff that worked before."

She forgave him with a punch in the shoulder and they continued down the block.  As they got to his apartment, he noticed a black limo parked out front.  Curious, the two tennis players crossed the street and slowed up near the entrance.

The double doors flew open, held by two doormen.  A tall, well-dressed man with distinguished hair came out with the building manager, Lenny.  A chauffeur opened the limo as he approached.  Hanging up his cell phone, the distinguished man turned back and shook the manager's hand with a smile before disappearing into the stark black vehicle.

The limo was already pulling away as Darren and Jessica stepped up to Lenny.  He seemed happy, in a nervous sort of way.

"Lenny, what's up?  Who's that?" Darren asked.

"Oh, hey Darren.  That's just Mr. Rider doing his monthly inspection," the overweight man said proudly.
Darren's eyebrows furrowed.  "Inspection?  He's a building inspector?"

Lenny chuckled as they moved back into the building.  "No, no.  He owns this building.  The whole block, actually.  He owns a lot of things."

Darren nodded at first, but quickly stopped in his tracks as Lenny and Jessica continued across the lobby.  The perplexed manager and confused friend turned back to the unsuccessful writer.

"What's up, dude?" Jessica asked.

Darren stood with a glazed expression on his face as the thoughts in his head coalesced together.  "I know why I can't write."

Jess looked surprised.  "You do?  Why?"

"I live on Rider's Block."