about a fatal accident that occurred near my home
taking the lives of a 7th grade student and her
mother who worked at the same middle school. 1-30-07

The morning air was laced with frozen dew
as snowflakes dancing upon the soft breeze.
Man’s path made treacherous from hours before
and still...no prayer found to Man’s knees.

Morning commute so mundane it’s become
ruts of habits and morning coffee by the score.
Heating the car, wishing for one more moment
wrapped up in blankets safe from winter’s floor.

Twenty minutes...a time between here and there
that we spend mingling on asphalt, broken lanes.
Wondering about the next meeting, project...
Maybe contemplating why we even came.

Morning commute down to remaining feet
as the cold winds continue to twirl and play.
Looking at the building as on every morning
never thinking about a single, fragile day.

One more intersection to meet that end.
Time for classes, bells, friends and life.
School buses ahead pulling ‘round the side
almost as though some peculiar rite.

Mother and child safe inside their car
crossing that last barrier to end their commute.
Mind stuck inside that daily routine rut
is one last thought that anyone should refute.

Lights arrived at that split second careening
into their routine - now not routine at all.
Yards away from the school they were seeking
now arrived at the shadow’s of Death’s cold wall.

Mother and child lost in their routines
together at the last moment...perhaps held hands
when the unexpected happened and delivered
a Heavenly chorus upon this frozen land.

©February 3, 2006 Lori S. Maynard
10:27 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 3-minute free write
about a fatal accident that occurred near my home
taking the lives of a 7th grade student and her
mother who worked at the same middle school. 1-30-07

The car pulled across the highway where it was struck on the passenger side by a van. The impact was so great(even though the van SHOULD HAVE been going ONLY 30 mph), that the car was forced into two parked cars in a parking lot. The momentum of the van made it strike the passenger side. Both occupants of the car died at the scene...literally a stone's throw away from the middle school where the girl was a 7th grader and the mother worked with special needs students.