a windy thursday vignette

i was walking to the grocery store earlier, along a main street. it’s sunny and gorgeous again today, which makes the conditions ideal for a promenade, so out i went. on the to-get list: potatoes, carrots, crackers and apples.

anyway...

there was a little old man walking ahead of me on the sidewalk. he was short and trim, with white hair, a windbreaker and sneakers. clearly, this was his exercise for the morning and, though he wasn’t moving too quickly, he was making his way just fine.

then, unexpectedly, he casually stepped out into the middle of the road. there was a break in traffic, so it’s not like he was throwing himself in front of a car or anything, but the gesture seemed rather odd, especially given that we weren’t walking along some quiet, residential street. traffic would be heading his way shortly.

when he got to the middle of the road, he stopped. by now, i was wondering what the hell he was doing.

and, as i passed by him, perhaps 12 or 13 feet away and amid the traffic-free quiet, i heard him let out a very loud, very distinct fart.

ah.

well, there you go.

and on i went.

fin.