(Thank you for the words, Nancy!)
HOW I MET REGGIE
The highway stretched out long and empty,
save for the occasional long-haul trucks.
Then I saw the sign: Nowhere, population 1, accommodations
(A "2" had been crossed out and replaced with the "1".)
Since it was time to stop and rest anyway,
I followed the direction the arrow pointed.
In the middle of a very small town stood
a rundown building with six doors.
And, sure enough, a "motel-pink" VACANCY sign
spasmed and buzzed above the first door.
(This felt like something out of a Hitchcock movie
and I expected to see Anthony Perkins pop out.)
Now, you may wonder why I didn't just turn around.
Well, the life of a long-haul driver can be boring.
This was exciting in a risky kind of way. I wanted to
satisfy my curiosity. And, besides, I was tired.
So, I climbed the two steps and opened the door,
not realizing I was actually holding my breath.
I saw a man sleeping in a chair at a wooden desk.
And a pegboard with 5 keys on it behind him.
He was old and sickly-creaky-thin, with a few wayward
wisps of hair floating on his otherwise bald head.
Hearing the door close, he awoke with a snort
and a jerk and slowly rose from his rickety chair.
"Ah...evenin' sir," he managed to squeak.
"You'll be wantin' a room?" he asked hopefully.
Now, I usually sleep in my rig, but
this night I was living dangerously!
(I could always go back to my rig if my room wasn't comfortable.)
So, shooing a rooster out of the way,
the old man got a key and handed it to me.
We spent a while chatting about mostly nothing,
when he told me about the rooster.
"His name's Reggie an' he been
keepn' me comp'ny since my wife died."
Finally, I wished the old man a good night,
and made my way to the door of #5.
I couldn't help feeling sorry for the old guy,
living way out here by himself.
That was about all I had time to think about
before I turned off the light and fell asleep.
I don't remember what time it was exactly,
but it wasn't yet daylight, when I heard voices.
After struggling into my jeans and shirt,
I poked my head out the door.
What I saw was a state patrol car and an
aid car parked in front of the office.
When someone finally realized I was there,
the cop approached and asked for my ID.
(Having already done the preliminary check
on my truck and license number, I'm sure.)
After assurance my face wasn't on any WANTED posters,
he got out of his patrol car and motioned me over.
When I asked what had happened, he explained how
he always checks on the old man during his patrols.
Only on this night, he was found slumped,
dead, in his chair.
After summoning paramedics, it was determined
the old man had died of natural causes.
(I'm so used to hearing traffic, I had slept through everything.)
Once they knew I was in no way responsible,
I gathered up my things and headed to my rig.
I hadn't gone very far down the road when
it hit me like a thunder clap after lightning.
Eventually, I found a place to turn around,
and hoping I wasn't too late, headed back.
I pulled in front of the motel and checked
to be sure no one was still there.
The office door had been padlocked.
Ditto the back door.
However, I managed to find a window
to pry open and crawl through.
After stumbling my way to the front,
I finally found what I was looking for.
There, by the swivel chair, sat
a very forlorn-looking Reggie.
(If it's possible for a rooster to look like that!)
I scooped him up, found some feed,
and we made our escape the way I'd come in.
No one had thought about him being all alone.
So, I decided to adopt him.
He still rides with me to this day.
And wakes me every morning.
And that's how I met Reggie the Rooster.
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