I look left, then right, and left again.
The road is clear and, pushing pedal toward the floor, I pull onto the winding road. As I accelerate into the turn, a hawk merges with me, flying a few yards both above and ahead of my vehicle.
For half a mile we keep pace with one another, flying along at a 35 mph clip. I shadow him, winding left and right as the road dictates. For a moment I am not driving, but rather flying.
The light ahead pulls my attention away from the beautiful bird. The light signals red, and my foot presses on the brake. The vehicle slows. The hawk does not.
As I come to a halt at the traffic light, the hawk suddenly changes course. It angles its outstretched body a few hours counterclockwise, deserting the road in favor of fields and forest.
Imprisoned in my vehicle, awaiting the go of green, I watch in envy as the hawk takes the road less traveled and soars to the heavens.
Hi Mike,
I’d rather you see a hawk than for you to have a cell phone glued to your ear. 🙂 🙂
Related. One night many years ago I was driving along a dark road in Sea Isle City, NJ. From out of nowhere (not really) a seagull, heading in the wrong direction tried to stare me down as he/she charged toward my windshield. The headlights sharpened the encounter. The bird bounced off the shatter proof glass and we continued on our respective ways.
Peace………..
Michael, your writing is lovely, as always. I am thinking of putting together another fate anthology of stories just about animals. Of course,I would want it to include your wonderful, “The Angel that Couldn’t Fly.” Got any ideas for a title for the book, and any other fate stories about animals? When are you going to put your stories together and have them published in a book?????
Is it time to run the light?