Traffic Life : Passionate Tales and Exit Strategies
Edited by Stephan Wehner
An Anthology
 
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94 Empowerment had to budget for more car expenses. Item two noted a re- cent auto theft! Four teens were discovered in the midst of their joy ride. During the police pursuit their jolly stolen car crashed into two other vehicles. Imagine high speed car chases anywhere in this congested city! Item three related to air pollution's crop damage and consequential respira- tory diseases. How many tons of toxins were being pro- duced in this traffic snarl? The radio was turned off. Cars growled and honked. All awaited signs of move- ment. No road rage dramas, just passive frustration. Check- ing her mirror, cars continued to line up. Anita lit a cigarette. She believed that cigarettes kept her thin and completed her cool tough image! Her high marks in business courses had landed her a great job, soon she would be well off like her hardwork- ing Uncle! Her Uncle was confident that Anita would be successful. She would soon be rich like her Uncle! Uncle Enrico started on his road to riches as a building contrac- tor. After buying a car dealership, he joked about his new 'exhaustive work'. 'Enough of this cold climate! We need cars producing a new, warmer world. As the water rises, I'll go back into real estate and develop beach front property!' He laughed and added. 'Why worry? Be happy!' He was a hard working, hard drinking, fun loving Uncle! He loved fast cars, fast women and the fast life! Her cellular phone zinged. 'Hello Anita, it's Pablo. Sorry, I call you with bad news. Uncle ... Uncle is in Emergency. This morning Uncle smashed into another vehicle. He's on the critical list!' Anita put out her cigarette, 'I'll see Uncle after work.' She couldn't take time off work! Uncle proclaimed never get behind in business. And, he also never gave up rich foods, quit smoking or found time to exercise. 'After work? That could be too late. Go to the hospital now! We need to be there!' Pablo demanded. 'Look, I'm stuck in traffic. But, I'll call my office and see you as soon as possible!' Anita reconsidered her loose ends at work. These needed to be tied up. Uncle would understand. She'd see him later.
  
Rick Millikan 95 How late would she arrive at work? Her mama's timely gift, an exquisite diamond studded watch, helped her make an estimate. Mama always had time for her, yet time ran out for Mama. Her mother avoided constant dangers before moving to Canada and her horrible auto accident. Someone hurrying to make a left hand turn, simply made a common, stupid mistake. Her mother's death became another pre- cautionary motor vehicle fatality statistic. Did Uncle rush unthinkingly to his life's sorry end as well? Cyclists passed by. She once pedaled off to school, to shop, to work ... Now she felt too anxious to wear un- flattering spandex and deal with helmet hair. She spotted another lone cyclist on a tandem. Shaking her head in dis- belief Anita said. 'Papa, what are you doing here?' '... rescuing you from your automotivated nightmare! Let's go see Uncle!' 'My work ...' Papa continued, 'Work's not life! Liberate yourself! Tell your boss about an emergency meeting with an important businessman! We need to pay our respects and give our best wishes to your Uncle!' Anita hugged Papa. 'My gallant, crazy Papa!' She parked her siren red auto off the shoulder. Then, Anita mounted the tandem's 'stoker' saddle behind papa, her 'captain'. They smoothly pedalled off toward the hospital. 'Sing out!' encouraged Captain Papa. 'As our wheels do roll along, roll along, roll along ... Let's sing out a cycling song, a ying yang song ... as we roll along ...' Thinking was rejuvenated. Although Anita felt life's pro- found contradictions, she moved forward with a new clarity and muttered, 'Is that car an asset or a liability? Could 'bicycle' be the answer?'

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