ballons by the side of the road

and she started crying at the site of the balloons and bears on the side of the road.
she imaginged the horrors that must have been,
the lost child
the pain
the death of a loved one
the shattered families of both
the victim's family and
the perpetrator's family.


It was a country road not a lot of civilization,
trees
cows
single lane each direction
just a single stop sign easily missed could have caused the mishap.

she continued to cry as she thought of the profound loss,


The teenage driver of the car asks what she is crying for,
and thinks to himself:
opportunity to console
to be sensitive
maybe sneak in a quick feel while hugging
he pulls over, after all its hard to be sensitive and,.. while your driving.

and he asks "Why are you crying?"

she explains how she saw the balloons and teddy-bear on the side of the road
and he holds her hand

she continues how sad it must have been for the family.
he slides over and gives her a hug

she continues how life can be devastated in an instant
his hand is just on the side of her breast

and she cries while being held,..



"to upset to realize she is being fondled." he says later that night to his friends while they were out in the field getting drunk.


"and the best part of the whole thing" he continues "is; the balloons and teddy-bear was to mark the road to go down for some kids birthday party."


The group of boys laugh loudly and call him lucky.