West Campus

Driving down 26th, headed home, at 1:05 am. A bicyclist in front of me takes his time meandering down the middle of the street. Passing a brand name apartment complex I can't help but notice a pickup truck parked in front, the driver revving the engine. He's looking over as I go by. The cyclist proceeds through the intersection as I pull to a stop. The truck is behind me now and I don't help myself. Counting, it only takes four seconds.

"Any time now, faggot!"

Really.

I don't make eye contact through the rear-view mirror, but I do put my arm out the window to give him a thumbs up.

"I can just push you out of the way!" I drive a Toyota RAV 4. It's been called a rollerskate. He has a lot to prove.

A split moment and he budges up to my bumper as I'm thinking 'This could be great.' Unlike my aggressor I realize I'm in Texas, where if you rear-end someone it is always your fault. That's where the "one car length for every 10 mph" rule comes from. A love tap and an insurance claim will give this fella something true to be angry about. He budges a little more.

I don't yell anything back, but I do put my arm out the window and make a circular swooping motion. Almost as if I'm saying "Well, give me a push, baby."

He's gunning his engine now and I'm actually expecting a jolt any second. The guy seems stupid enough. As I begin to move he's yelling "Move your ass!" in the best 'Harold and Kumar' reenactment one can muster. The truck pulls through the stop sign and I can hear him yell something unintelligible that I'm sure were great last words.

I think he was screaming at himself.