As he steps out of the van, the smell of urine is unmistakable. Used hypodermic needles and empty liquor bottles are plainly visible by a trash dumpster. A flimsy chain-link fence — helmeted with a wild array of barbed wire — guards the entrance to the back end of this convenience store, located in the Benton Harbor, Mich., community. It is secured with a tiny padlock, designed to keep would-be thieves away, as well as those seeking a place to sleep, urinate, or worse.
The store in question has an extremely dirty indoor environment, thanks mainly to the constant inrush of dirty air from the busy street outside. The smell of alcohol from returnable cans and bottles is undeniable. Teed is here to perform maintenance on an aging rooftop unit.