Maricus had no idea how to handle it. It was one of the worst. At least today’s worst. He was down by Nuamber Beach on his only day off (a Sunday) and was trying to cross the short bike path to get to

THE BEACH

but

THE BIKE PATH

was full of constant

BIKE TRAFFIC

He sighed inwardly. That is to say: he sighed. He would wait for a little while longer and then just rush across. If some cyclists had to slow down or swerve, well, they would. They could do that for him today, on his only day off. He needed a day off.

A mother and daughter appeared next to him at the crossing. “Okay honey be careful now.” Okay good. They would be waiting with him and he wouldn’t look like a total dork with his dorky bag and dorky FACE as he stood there like a GOD DAMN DORK. “Okay, quick!!” The mom and her daughter scurried across the busy path. Successfully, without incident.

Maricus stood there like a dork. He could have made it. Oh well, the traffic would lighten up soon. He would cross then. He looked ahead at the sparkling ocean, just a hundred feet away. He wanted to get over there so bad. He looked left. Lots of bikes still coming. He looked right. LOTS OF BIKES. He growled without realizing it. He took a tentative step into the bike path.

“WATCH IT.” A cyclist screeched at him from nowhere. He leapt back as a colossal thing buzzed past him.

Fuck this fucking— started Maricus in his head, but he caught himself. Negative self-talk was something he’d been working on because he enjoyed it too much. He had to work on it but he could start that tomorrow. Today he would unleash. FUCK THIS FUCkING SHIT.

Maricus turned around and walked back home. He had some work to do anyway.