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
