LXXII. The Wreck. March 23, 2021

>driving Lyft

>somewhere off Holton Street I pick up Mike

>Mike, his wife, and their son are very large people

>front seat is off limits because Covid

>they must all cram in the back

>the door barely closes

>I stop at a stop sign

>Holton and Orange

>and there we are rear-ended by a pickup truck

>it is quite the jolt

>my Mitsubishi is totaled

>We all pour out of the car

>Everybody ok? Anybody hurt?

>and et cetera

>nobody says they’re hurt

>driver of the pickup is a spry old man

>a lady making that turn yells out “You ok, grandpa?”

>he waved and said he was

>so we call the cops

>and I call Lyft

>the Lyft lady asks to speak to the passengers

>Mike and his whole crew are gone

>a dozen people saw the wreck

>nobody knows where they went

>”No problem lady” I say, “I will just look up the ride info”

>the ride is gone

>my phone says I never picked up Mike at all

>Later

>the cops can’t find Mike

>the combined efforts of at least four insurance adjusters from three different multinational insurance conglomerates come to naught

>Lyft will not comment

>So Mike, if you’re out there

>stay low