☠️ Murder At Midnight

For me, time froze for a second and then the inevitable happened.

There was nothing I could do

It was a Friday night after an eternal day and into a slow evening. Caught up with a buddy and his group for supper, as agreed. There were a few late-night coffee shops that I frequented. Went to one for a last-minute cappuccino and then headed home. The car clock flashed 12:00 midnight. I chose to take the way less travelled for a more relaxed drive. The highway seemed rather busy those days with the late trucks and busses zipping across. There I was, nearing the end of the broad roadway, happily driving along, humming to the surrounding darkness. As I gently steered into the narrow side route, I was in for a surprise. Out of nowhere, he jumped headstrongly and with supreme confidence right into the middle of the lane. It was a very close call, and I couldn’t break. He stood there like a rock, with no intention to budge an inch. Chest forward, he stared at me. For me, time froze for a second and then the inevitable happened. I ran over him in the midnight’s silence, my front and then the rear wheels. 

The next morning as I was browsing the phone, the other night’s chapter came to mind. It was then that I pondered. Why do they do this? It’s not uncommon these days and one can not dismiss it off as a rare episode. Was it his ego telling him I would slam hard on the brake? Or maybe it was the sheer shock that froze him in his track. There was the sound of a burst and a plop. Hmm, there was no use thinking about it. I moved on to the breakfast table and continued my daily chores.

As I drove to town that morning, I thought to myself. “I am sure a bunch of lucky crows will feast on one more dead frog…. and maybe…. just maybe, none mourn his passing.”