MORNING RUSH
The downtrodden in loose
bits of dried red mud
caked to their work boots
shirt-tails hanging out. A teen
squeaks hot pink sneakers
on the recently mopped floor.
Half asleep, children whine
about the cold, hair marred
by a hard ruthless pillow
instilling cow licks and sleep
in the corner of the eye. Sales
Blossom as the, good mornings
are checked out. Customers pack
the deli section for on-the-go cold
cuts and breakfast bagels. Workers
finish their nightshift on cheap
cole slaw and bar-b-que sandwiches
before heading home. Poured
cups of steaming coffee
heat up the air. Coughing,
Sniffling, sneezing, and one hacker
of last night’s cigars wait in a
line extending backwards from the
sales register. Linemen tuck hard
hats under their arms, sleeves
rolled up, forearms greasy
from work. A father mothers
his rebellious child forward. They bump
into the always nicely dressed
Mr. Robert, an elderly gentleman
with thin lips and a bowtie. Another
follows wearing a tee saying, Believe in
the Lord, but places her faith
in lotto number nine. Brother Joe
the wannabe preacher from across town
prays loudly for all their souls. Escalating
Purchases peak for the cashier
money exchanged, credit taken
goodbyes given. Headache
powders, caffeine pills, and packs
of cigarettes are dealt out like
tarot cards. The line extending
backwards shrinks. Time for a quick
bathroom break and smoke. Sales
dwindle as the noon day rush begins.
BROAD & MAIN
Congestion begins at seven
and ends at ten on the nights
hoisting TV specials. The arena
dumps cars, trucks, and buses
into the intersection. A station wagon
and sedan nearly collide, dodging the
pedestrians crossing Broad. An activity
bus packed with rowdy children
takes the crossroads. Construction
trucks scatter gravel onto the
asphalt. The red “Don’t
Walk,” flashes, changes to a
green “Walk.” Several well-suited
businessmen dash to the other
side of Main. The public transit
makes the connection to the right. A
harsh-mouthed Latino taxi
driver spews Spanish curses at a
mom and two kids spanning the crossway.
A tractor trailer jack-knifes
crashes into a blue RV, three autos,
and a mini-bus with eight elderly
shoppers returning from the mall. The
eighteen wheeler smashes into a flatbed
truck and burst into flames. The unbuckled
driver slams his head against the windshield
blood gushes from the wound. Emergency
crews arrive on scene, blue lights flash
sirens scream. The crossing is blocked off
by rescue workers who save lives, pull
charred mangled bodies from the wreckage. News
vans arrive, set up. The reporter straightens
her hair, checks her makeup, flashes a smile.
We’re on. She whirls about, candidly addressing
the camera, Breaking News,there’s been a tragic
accident at Broad and Main.
Randy Lee White is the author of a collection of stories titled, “Yearnings: Rendezvous.” His poetry and prose has appeared in Sanskrit, The Helix Magazine, Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, Gambling the Aisle, and The Monarch Review. For additional information visit the author’s website: www.randywhitenow.com.