this story begins with what might call disclaimer confession combo proud that scheming sneak this past friday night exactly sorry either more think about more sure that most feel this internal conflict somewhere between feeling pleased with ourselves ashamed regular basis first stage several years jason loved band spoon when transferred that love wasn't hard it's great band jason been waiting them live years problem they only seem ever play coasts overseas never chicago indianapolis louis finally rather recently receives email he's been waiting from band spoon will playing chicago great -person venue friday night snag can't purchase tickets only them raffle from radio station have radio station event chicago weekday night actually claim tickets salt wound already plans chicago very evening spoon concert plans involved hanging with friend stephen called last week tell wouldn't have much time hang because friend carrie tickets spoon carrie course hadn't heard spoon before night tickets that's like throwing some coarse kosher salt wound good measure fast forward friday we're going chicago anyway right about halfway there kankakee stephen jason talk decide will meet drink schuba's where spoon concert being held least will able catch half hour before stephen carrie into concert sitting outside venue concert really want painful honestly that point resigned missing jason resigned much maybe that's sign true trait someone grew city when arrived schuba's outside ordered beer some food soon were joined stephen carrie already turned their free tickets their hands stamped concert jason suddenly inspired licked back hand pressed stephen's stamped hand have been desperate joke that worked there very hand stamp that matched stephen's great thought i'll sitting here alone night carrie's stamp already smudged stephen didn't have enough left hand share this when plotting were thickened eventually involved stephen sitting while drew rather complex stamp design hand with which smudged just enough make look less fine pen-like more rubber stamp-like stamps into past ticket-collecting hand-stamping door might realize never seen hand over winning tickets pass through that door before once again true spoon idea jason went inside restaurant side schuba's restroom found back near kitchen which connected were golden five minutes later jason both bathroom real surprisingly turned around were leaving once with stephen carrie came front door when time opening band begin people started pouring back into concert area only hold stamped hand glance from girl sitting that checkpoint were were elated really time lives definitely top-five concert experience both jason being able show didn't expect made experience that much better sure we're left with story tell with pride funny shameful maybe isn't either maybe it's just deal maybe it's kind thing people time it's interesting track your brain least brain justifies such antics instance didn't anyone although drawing stamp your hand sorts didn't take anything from anyone actions didn't involve cheating band anything radio station already paid everything besides have bought spoon's downloaded copies then into justifying deserved show because really love band know music surely many people there like carrie just thought free concert cool still feel sheepish somehow maybe it's just good upbringing flicker natural desire please parents that can't quite shake maybe it's realization that line-drawing rather random subjective sport slippery slope where outright becomes subtle deception which becomes really nothing something still don't want encourage your children maybe simply grow suspicious myself good reason when begin justifying anything this instance however would again heartbeat 