walking along the edge of the rottingpaved road a clean gleaming black car breezed by uncomfortablyclose

    drivers usually without oncoming traffic provided him a wide berth

lifting his eyes from reading he saw it went past two familiar parked vehicles and pulled off ahead of them

as he approached glancingup again the drivers door opened and produced a young man a geek black slacks pressed white shirt black tie glasses groomed nutbrown hair parted left to right

Hello.

Hiya

       he sidestepped  car door still open 

the young mans other foot stepped onto the gravelly and sand concrete

as he passed they asked Do you have a moment to discuss scripture?

turninground on the ball of his foot walking backwards No  Im an atheist

brashly What do you believe in?

raising his hand pointing his indexfinger at him thumbup like a cocked pistol he then turned it on himself

if it went off he wouldnt be mortally wounded

                                                      Me

without breaking strideleading with his right shoulder he turned back up the streetkept walking  

1440,  Tuesday,  2  12. 25