Andy Shauf: “Hometown Hero”

Hometown hero flexing his arm
With a five-yard pass to the end of the bar
He says, “I’ll be right back I’m just gonna go grab another pack.”

Walks one block to the all-night station
And steps into a situation
There’s a man with a gun pointed at the nervous clerk

And before he could think
He was tackling the gunman
Who hit his head and was knocked unconscious

The clerk relieved said, “Oh my god
You’re a hero man and you should stick around
‘Til the cops get here, maybe you’ll make the morning news.”

But the hometown hero rose to his feet
Tossed him the gun and said, “Thanks, but I’ve gotta run
I’ll take a pack of camel lights and be on my way.”

Night’s Bridge

“Darkness is happening,” said the leather woman, very quietly. “Night is happening. All the nightmares that have come out when the sun goes down, since the cave times, when we huddled together in fear for safety and for warmth, are happening. Now,” she told them, “now is the time to be afraid of the dark.” (Neil Gaiman, Neverwhere, 1996)

Every so often, you get a chance to participate in a photo challenge with an image you always wanted to make but never really got around to. So I am happy to contribute this trio to Paula’s Thursday’s Special.