Sometimes life provides us with the unique and extraordinary ability to see society and the human experience with clarity. Sometimes it only provides us with frustration and chaos.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Internal Combustion

Perhaps he had a long day already. Maybe his wife had left him earlier in the week. No matter the events that lead up to it, I was thankful for my timing as it saved my life I wish others would have been so lucky.
Twenty minutes to seven I arrived just in time for a teen burger and a rootbeer before my writting course. The air cool and crisp for the month of november. The resturaunt was busy this evening, more so than normal for Thursday. I waited in line for a few minutes the cashier seemed frazzled but tried to remain pleasant. With only two girls on line orders we're backed up, customers annoyed. I had a simple order a teen burger and rootbeer, so it came rather quickly.
I sat down near the window, grabbed the local paper to read.
Then I seen him enter, he had parked his semi-truck and trailer off to the sholder of the busy highway. A typical truck driver with salt and pepper hair and a belly that hang over his belt he walked in swiftly. He approached the line behind two other customers. Seemily impacient he tapped his feet awaiting his turn. Within a few minutes he had ordered and now was waiting for his order. Meanwhile a lady walked in with a take-out order, she claimed was not hers, and the cashier quicky made the nessasary changes. More people came in giving orders, the drive through window also backed up with customers. The truck driver glaced out to his truck every few moments, grew increasingly more impacient. Other customers whom had stood in line after him we're now recieving their orders, he was still waiting.
His face grew red, and he was now very angry. He leaned over the counter to the cashier, told her to forgot the whole damn order, as he didn't have time to sit and wait all god damn night.
Then he stormed out.
I could see his semi, I could see his anger. I got up, and left driving into the next parking lot. A funny feeling came over me. This man was more than angry, he had snapped. Part of me wanted to run in and warn them. Part of me didn't believe my own gut. Part of me just wanted to leave. I had to stay, I needed to know what would happen next.
He started the truck and reaved it up a few times. Then he merged onto the busy highway.
Perhaps I was wrong I thought.
He drove up a few blocks to an empty parking lot, and turned the truck around. Heading back to the A@W , I got a sick feeling in my gut.
I watched in horror as the lights grew brighter, I froze. Within seconds their was an earth shattering noise, broken glass flying everwhere, screaming, and chaos.
He had driven his truck right through the front windows of the resturaunt. People we're running and screaming. I watched in horror at the events I could feel unravelling. There in the next parking lot. I called 911, and cried.

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