cake and cars

for the third time, henry is in the hospital.

monday, as i was heading toward redondo beach (it wasn't malibu, i realize. sometimes i must make sacrifices for friends), i started hearing some funny noises coming from my little green vespa. it was a sort of high-pitched whirry thing--the kind of sound that annoys me but i usually ignore because, really, what could go wrong? my vespa is fine. well, the thing that could go wrong is, when cruising at seventy-five, headed south on the 405 amidst memorial day traffic, you feel this sudden lurch. a jolt. a throw-you-over-the-handlebars braking feeling. it's then that you wonder about the irony of the signs lining the freeway that yell "click-it or ticket." for me and henry, at least, it's ironic.

in hyperbolic fashion i flew over the handlebars, then slowed down to a stop as henry slowly coasted down the side of the interstate.

fortunately, i had half a piece of california's most tasty red velvet cake to keep me company. unfortunately, i had to make a piece of california's most tasty red velvet cake last for an hour and a half.

hours later, me, henry, and a greasy tow-truck driver rolled into an empty vespa store parking lot somewhere near newport beach. and that is where henry is at the moment. i could sit here and complain about the bus system in la, or decry the american love of large cars, or rant about la's disregard for the environment. but i will not. instead, i will sit quietly, and--in honor of henry--have a silent moment.