Collision course

Today I parked my car at a meter on the corner of Broadway and 85th Street, walked toward the frozen yogurt place, and just before I entered, I heard a loud crash. I turned to see that two cars had collided just feet from my own parked car. Everyone appeared to be safe, and plenty of people were assisting the passengers, so I proceeded inside and stood on the long line of frozen yogurt lovers.

Eventually I got my cone and walked outside. The cops were there--taking reports and calming the distressed victims. As I began to unlock my car door, a van going full speed toward the corner at which I was parked, smashed into a stopped SUV and burst into flames. This took place no more than 5 feet from where I was now standing. The passengers safely got out of their vehicles, the police of course were already on the scene, and the fire department was called immediately.

As the van proceeded to burn to the ground, I decided to move my car to the next block. Then, while walking through Riverside Park, I finished my melting cone and listened to the faint sounds of sparrows and fire trucks in the distance.