Small Decisions Matter

Woman sits at stoplight, remembers that she owes a man some money and could turn and meet him at his house. But she's concerned. Alone with him, who knows? Light changes and
she drives straight through, to home. And maybe
nothing would've happened. But she didn't go,
and nothing did, for sure.

Man sits thinking about whisky, wishing that he hadn't
bought it. He'd been doing fine. It's right there
in the cupboard,  now it's in his hand, cap off,
the smell filling room and glass and as he takes
a drink he knows the die was cast long before,
as he parked the car outside the liquor store.
He should have just kept driving, had a coke.

Self-appointed watchman sits concerned about a guy
who's walking there. Dispatch says sit tight and wait for
law enforcement to arrive, but what if that's too late,
a crime committed  when he might've stopped it?
The gun...but maybe he should leave it in the car,
just stop the guy and have a little chat, see what he's up to.
On the other hand, the gun might make the difference,
convince the guy to listen, and he's saved the day for once.
He cannot know that everything about his life will change
the moment that he steps out on the curb.


(c) Ellen Gillette, 2013