A bit more than an "OUCH"

It was around 11:30 and I'd just gone to bed, covering Starbuck up with his blanket so that lying beside me, his shivering didn't keep waking me up during the night. His far more sensitive ears must have picked up the sound just before mine did. I felt him tense, then I heard a noise I've come to know very well over the years: SCREEEEEEEECH.

It went on and on, or more probably is only seemed that way. I remember thinking, somebody took the curve too fast again . . . probably another drunk . . . wonder if he'll pull it out . . . while waiting for the WHUMP of an inpact that often follows.

The screech of brakes stopped, and I had just started thinking somebody was pretty darned lucky when . . . WHUMP, followed immediately by a second.

Just to be on the safe side, the vehicle's sole occupant — its drunken driver— although there wasn't a mark on him, was transported to the hospital for observation. Once released (probably this morning) his next stop is jail until he has his court appearance.

Poor guy. Bad timing, with Monday being a national holiday and all the courts closed.

There was one "fatality." This time, it was obviously a bit more than an OUCH.