I look at my watch once again. The time is 3:45 p.m.. The city
is my own. It matters not where I am. Right now, I am stuck in traffic, knowing I will be late for my shift at work. Reaching
over carefully to my purse, I take out my cell phone and make
a quick call.

The light is still red.

"Circulation, may I help you?"

"Yes, is Jane there?"

"One moment."


A few minutes pass, the light turns green once again and I find
myself with my cell phone on my ear and trying to manuever my
car forward in this maze of traffic.

All I see is a line of cars ahead of me and on the side streets
cars waiting just to dart in front of any slow driver.

I let out a breath, still waiting for Jane to answer.

Finally after what seems forever, a voice on the other end.

"Yes, may I help you?"

"Hi, this is Katie. I am stuck in traffic, I might be a little
late."

"No problem. Thanks for letting me know."

A click to the phone.

I close the cell phone and toss it to the seat beside me.

Almost not fast enough for a red truck to pull out in front
of me from a side street.

A horn honks and the driver is clearly shouting something
at me but I can't hear or read lips, so too bad.

The traffic slows once again to a crawl.

"I hate this!"

Inching my way to 12th and Hamilton, slowly, tortuously
moving forward, like a turtle, and of course, the light
is red when I get to the intersection. I look left, no cars,
so I gun it and turn right anyway.

The turn goes smoothly,just another block up.

Cars turning into the parking lot from the other side seems
like a dance of chance.

I let the car go ahead of me.

That car finds the only parking place left.

Shit!

I wait and look desperately to the entrance for signs of
life, of anyone leaving.

No one.

I am really late now.

What do I do?

Call again and tell them I am in the parking place, playing
car roulette, hoping for a winning slot?

Nope.

I wait like a fool.

Finally, someone coming out.

I roll down my window.

"Can you hurry it up? I am late for my shift."

I get a blank stare and I watch this lone soul walking
to their car like the last mile.

"Oh come on!"

I think for a split second of just going home, but the trip
back will be just as long as the one here.

I watch as the slow as molasses "savior" backs out.

I pull in quickly, only to hear.

"That was my spot!"

I smile, politely, and say

"Have a nice day, work sucks and so do you!"

I walk in to work feeling mightly

triumphant.

Only to hear.

"You're late!", from a co-worker.

"I called and you ain't the boss, so shut your

mouth!"

And I smile and go to work...

tra la la...