XVI. Excelsior. February 14, 2020

>driving Lyft

>around noonish

>going up Magnolia from Apalachee

>dude is walking a bicycle across four lanes of traffic

>I say “dude,” but maybe not dude

>age, race and gender are indeterminate

>dude is dressed like Tenzing Norgay ascending Everest

>perfect gear for the bonechilling cold of a sixty-five degree day in Florida

>dude makes it to the second lane, my lane, right in front of me

>I slam on brakes, yell, blow horn

>dude panicks, abandons bicycle

>vaults the concrete divider and sprints across the street

>Jesus dude’s fast

>disappears around Buffalo Wild Wings

>I drive around bicycle and continue on my way