The Traveler

Thoughts of the old one setting fire to the innards of another barrel go to the wayside as he takes notice of a man emerging out from the crowd.  Tall, yet slim in that the man’s clothes are hanging off his body, the man turns to face the crowd of men folk.  What clapping heard, trickles off and as quiet settles over the crowd, the man screams in a loud and hateful way, “All of you! Step back!”

Complying with the rest, the ripple effect has him stepping back a foot or two and once most have settled, the man out front waits a moment longer before he sends his arms jutting up to the sky as he screams, “Let the walk begin!”

Synchronized, gates swing wide as handlers usher beast and human onto the provided lane. Ideally, he is hoping to catch a glimpse of her or at least the mule and not having much luck, moves against the grain in having a closer look.

Along the way, crashing in, is him being the age of five when that dumb old cat came over and lay next to him. Kept him warm throughout that cold night to where he fell asleep only to find the cat dead the next morning. Life struck him hard like a jackhammer to his brain. Thinking back to this being an awakening of his primal self, the odds of his plan working out looks rather dismal.