Witness: A Zombie Anecdote

The lights flickered as another crack of thunder rattled across a dark purple sky. A young man sat at the window of a coffee house, sipping his brew and watching the people walk by on the sidewalk in front of him. Well, some walked, with umbrellas in hand, shielding them from the down pour. Others ran, with wet clothes and belongings to get cover. Some soon ran, even with their umbrellas.

The young man watched as one by one, the streetlights on the other side of the street went out. The traffic light at the corner went out as well, immediately leaving drivers confused and with a lack common driving courtesy.

He watched it all, sipping his coffee, dry and safe.

A young woman ran by, trying to keep her umbrella over her head, but dropped it as she passed. She stopped at the corner and looked behind her. A look of terror the young man had never seen before was branded upon her face. She turned to run across the street as a car was carelessly about to zoom through the unorganized intersection. After two large steps, she was struck by the vehicle. Her rag doll body was thrown onto the hood of the car and the driver slammed on the brakes in the middle of the intersection.

Horrified, the young man stood at the window, trying to get his cell phone out of his front pocket to call 911.

As the car came to a complete stop, a pickup truck coming from the left collided into the car, crushing the girl's legs.

The young man felt woozy. His phone dropped out of his hand as he watched the driver of the truck slowly get out, and then fall to the puddled ground. The girl was motionless, as was the other driver. The only movement that caught the his attention was another person, slowly stumbling down the sidewalk towards the commotion. As the figure passed by the window, it turned and locked eyes with the horrified young man. The figure's face was covered in blood. His left ear was gone, as well as most of his teeth which could be seen through the gash in it's cheek. A lifeless hand pressed against the window, trying to reach through. It tapped, then pounded.

The young man, once so full of life, stood like a statue, lifeless. As the once lifeless in front of him, ironically, seemed full of life.

Carrier: A Zombie Anecdote

The 75 South was pretty clear that day. 11 am, no congestion, just smooth driving to Tampa. A gray sedan was about to pass a semi-truck, when the driver noticed something about the door of the trailer. Not only was it unlocked, but there seemed to be some dark red, syrupy substance seeping out through the bottom. Thinking the situation to be strange, the driver got into the left lane and pulled up beside the trucker. With a little beep of her horn, the driver tried to get the trucker's attention. He kept forward, stone cold on the road. She beeped again. The trucker turned his head to the left, revealing a worn but young face. He was bruised on the eye and cheek. The driver of the gray sedan pointed backwards and mouthed the word "open". The truck then slowed down, letting the sedan pass. Thinking the truck was going to pull over, the driver of the sedan maintained their normal speed and got back into the right lane. However, in her rear-view mirror, she did not see the truck stop or get off at the next exit.

"Crazy," she said to herself. But with things to do, she forgot about it and kept on her way.

The truck driver kept driving, trucking, if you will, right past a sign reading: WEIGH STATION. ALL TRUCKS MUST STOP. A Florida state trooper was on the side of the road, just at the end of the entrance ramp to the highway. The truck passed, obviously catching the cop's attention. The trooper switched on the sirens and pulled out in pursuit of the truck.

After about a fourth of a mile, the truck had not pulled over. The trooper pulled up beside the trucker, much like the gray sedan, and beeped the horn. As the trucker looked to the left with a solemn face, the cop pointed to side of the road and yelled "pull over!" The trucker sighed and pulled onto the shoulder of the road. The trooper dropped back, and parked behind the stopped truck. Gathering his things, he got out of the cruiser. As he passed the trailer, he noticed the thick substance coating the door. He then approached the driver's door and knocked on it. Seeing that the window was already down, the officer spoke up.

"Sir, I'm pulling you over because of your failure to enter a mandatory weigh station. Were you unaware of the station?"

There was a period of silence.

"Sir, were you also unaware that you were being pulled over?"

Nothing.

"Will you please step out of the vehicle?"

The trucker was lifeless, motionless, speechless. The officer raised his voice.

"Hey! You hard of hearing there, buddy?! I said get out of the truck!"

The door cracked open and the trooper stepped back, getting out of the way. The trucker dangled his legs out and dropped onto the step, then to the ground, where he stood facing the officer.

"Have you been drinking? On drugs? Anything?"

No answer.

The cop mumbled something quickly into his radio.

"I'm going to have to ask you to walk to my car, please."

The trucker closed his door and walked past the trooper, limping on his left leg.

"What are you, hurt or something?"

Nothing.

The cop pointed him to the far passenger door. They walked around the car and the trucker got in the back. After shutting the door, another cop from the weigh station rolled up behind the first.

"What's going on here, Frank?" The second officer said, getting out of his squad car.

"Guy didn't stop at the station. I followed him for about a half mile before I could get him over. Won't say a word. Seems to be drugged or something. Oh, and look at this."

Frank and the other trooper walked to the back of the trailer. From the car, the trucker could see them looking in his direction and then pointing at the trailer door. Frank walked to the passenger door where the trucker was seated. He opened it.

"Get out. We're going to need to open up your trailer for us. It wasn't locked, and what ever it is that you're carrying seems to have a leak."

The truck driver got out and led the way to the trailer.

"Go on, open it."

With another sigh, the trucker gripped the handles at the bottom of the door. His bloodstained hands and arms did not go un-noticed by the troopers.

"Been in some sort of fight today?" The second cop asked.

The trucker looked at him with a ghostly stare. He looked back at the door and pushed upwards, letting out a light grunt. Frank, his comrade, and the trucker stood in silence.

A swell of deep moans broke that silence.

thoughts from the driver's seat (summer tour 2011)

My words float in the air, every noun, every letter, hanging above my head. I’m like a worm in the rain. I crawl across the pavement, unaware of the noose looming over my neck. I’m like a bird in the wind, finding struggle to keep flight. My exhausted wings continue to beat.

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I know what I am, just like the rest. An inch above a pig, but a foot below a man. But don’t forget what it seems, my dear; that you’re of reptilian descent and I can see all of what you are and every skin you’ve shed.

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You’re ignoring the signs and attempting a balancing act on the edge of a deep cavern of chagrin, an abyss of adversity. All I am is a puzzle of bones, pieced together with muscle and ligament. My adhesive blood will fail to keep structure. I will let you down and fall apart. Pull your heart from your ears, for my mouth is just full of stars. Tear your eyes from their home in your head and place them in each vessel so your heart may see that each of my words shall fade away.