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a new way of looking at... writings >> joe dobzynski jr. >> saturday - 1 |
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(author's note: this work is dedicated to heather tucker. there comes a time in life when a person realizes they were wrong, and can't do anything about it. i'm sorry, and this is my tribute to a friendship we once had and hope to have again. - jmd jr.) The car turned left onto a gravel road just outside of town. Bill's destination was one of the county's forest preserves, the one he used to sled at during the winter. The forest preserve sported a mediocre hill that was entertaining to kids 13 and under, and entertaining to those older after some healthy intoxication. However, today was Saturday, a lazy Saturday in the summer and Bill felt an irresistible urge to gallivant around in Nature's majesty. That is what he thought, anyway. Ten miles an hour was the speed limit on the gravel road, something that no one followed unless Officer Friendly happened to be on patrol there. Today wasn't one of those days, so Bill was barreling down the road at about 25 miles per hour. Not that it mattered really. Today some festival was going on in his hometown, something he never really paid attention to since leaving for school. Almost everyone in town had turned out for the event, almost everyone except Bill. He passed that sledding hill rather quickly when he noticed a couple of vehicles. He dropped his speed and found the first available space, which was right in front of the information board for the forest preserve. Bill paused a moment, looking thoughtfully at it, and habitually put the car in park. He grabbed the book he was reading and got out of the car. The information board had everything he thought it would. A warning about ticks and Lyme Disease, of which not a documented case was ever heard of out here. A listing of rules for the forest preserve, stating times that the preserve was open, that no alcohol was allowed, pets should be leashed, etc. Little of this really applied to Bill, or anyone else it seemed. He wondered what would actually happen if Officer Friendly actually saw someone out after ten with a dog running loose and the master with a beer cracked open. Probably what everyone would think. They'd just drive him home and tow his car. Much better than the $200 per violation of the rules. Less paperwork too some would say, including Officer Friendly himself. Bill looked down the gravel service road that led to a Nature Resource Center deep in the preserve. Bill only knew that because an old friend's parents volunteered out there every now and again on Saturdays. Hmm... that's today. |