Suffering
Started: Monday, April 30, 2001 23:15
Finished: Monday, April 30, 2001 23:35
This morning, on the way to work, I saw a chipmunk crossing the road. It was coming from the left side of a two-lane stretch, scampering to the right. It stopped right in the center of the pavement, on the double yellow line, as if waiting for the cars to pass before continuing with its morning exercise through the fresh spring air and sunshine.
I increased the pressure on the break, but not enough to slam to a full stop. For a moment, I thought I was going to straddle it. Duck chipmunk! Don't move.
Just as it sunk beneath my field of vision, I could see the little guy making a frantic, panicked dart back to the left. I felt a thud and a little bump from the left front tire.
A few meters later, I looked out my rear view mirror. The poor thing was wreathing around on the pavement, tail spastically flapping in the air, legs struggling to move, but not having much success.
My stomach momentarily knotted up. I didn't cry, but this felt like something worth crying about. I switched to another radio station, and continued on my way to work.