Dodo Eggs

This post is part of an archive.  To read the current version, we recommend “Life’s Road Kill.”

Before I begin the story I’d like to drive a metaphor into the ground…

On the one-way road of life, there are no u-turns for the important pit stops we miss. Who we rub bumpers with today may become hitched to someone else tomorrow.

We don’t know where the next pot hole will strike but we do know that one day our tires will wear bald, our gas will run dry, and our belts may stretch.

Our radio plays whatever tune we set. Is there a pre-set for lost loves? Or are you admiring the headlights and taillights of today’s models.

Let’s brake here.

After football practice one afternoon I was sitting outside of my Junior High in Dakota Territory. (Our mascot were the Midgets! That’s right, we were brave enough to thumb our noses at political correctness). The sky was overcast filled in with the thick, slate gray clouds so common during the winter. It gave everything a subdued and melancholy light. I sat on the concrete steps tired and waiting for my mother to pick me up.

I took a moment to inventory those gathered around me. There were always a few athletes or cheerleaders loitering long after school waiting for the same purpose but this afternoon someone more important was among their faceless assembly.

Leah was there. She was standing with a friend or two talking easily and looking completely unattainable. My secret hope, the burden I bore everyday from ages ten to thirteen was to have her attention for mere moments. I thought about her everyday. Did she even know I existed?

I had one hope. My mother’s car was in the shop and that meant there were only two cars she had the option of using. Attention would be drawn either way since both cars were members of their respective extreme. The car would either be my father’s completely restored 1976 Pontiac GTO or the red YuGo missing its front grill.

The GTO meant a proud march to the car with my football equipment on the opposite shoulder. I wouldn’t look at her that would have been too forward. No, I would look in her direction as if a bird in the tree behind her had caught my attention.

I asked God to grant me this wish. It was a simple prayer like a child asking for candy before bed. I didn’t have the bravado to ever start a conversation with her. I needed this.

Minutes later, a red bucket with four wheels turned the corner.  I bit my lip and draped my jersey over my head. Leah and I had missed our chance.

• Life’s Road Kill
• The Last Dance – Step One
• The Last Dance — Step Two
• Intrest Occupation (The 100th Post)
• Glass (Part 3)