godsmacked

he wasnt familiar with the roadwasnt usually in this neck of the woods  passed through a few times over the years

was remote

County Public Works was responsible for maintenance of the two lane road

looked like it hadnt been touched since it was laid

                                                         however

a crispnew yellow diamond warning sign had been posted just ahead of a stand of trees to either side of the road black silhouette  antlered deer in midleap

                                          he mumbled  Aint tellin me nothing

years back a twohunredpound buck crushed his car nearly killed him

he sawscreamed Stay put  he wasnt veeringwasnt playing chicken

                                                                          buck ran out in front of him

   killed a god that night

just before striking him the buck emanated a hotblue electriclight  lighted the road tall grass threw shadows  shivered hued nearby trees

                      upon collision

everything went obsidianblack

thought he was dead

   then the full butteryellow moon returned

he believed it flinchedclosed its eyes

                                      didnt want to see anymore than he had

he didnt brake

he sought the shoulder let the car roll to a stop

                                                the wholewhile he slouchedpeering through the windshield through a space a sliver between the dash and the sprung hood

highway cop told him hoods arent supposed to spring

                                                        said when he got the call on his way over he was steeling himself figured itd be another gory fatality or fatalities

Thank you for not getting killed almost the end of my shift.  I didn’t want to take that home.

Youre welcome

cop looked over his shoulder at him seated in back

                                                       You a funny guy?

Im a fuckin riot

                 Just lost one of my nine lives anIm runnin low

0822,  Twosday,  18  6. 24

1354,  2sday