by Jon Pelletier

Created on: August 15, 2009

Jugular:

A man pulled his car up to the valet.

He opened the door and walked towards the restaurant. Throwing his keys at the young man in a red vest, the richer of the two told him, Take care of her, she's all I have. The valet gave him a small piece of paper to hold until his dinner was over. The young man stepped into the car and moved it towards the street before turning into the large parking lot in front of the building. He pulled the car into a stall and shut it off. He stood and closed the door with a thud.

The night was cold. There was a small dusting of snow on the ground, covering the ice that had accumulated over the thaw and then freezing of the air. The young man stood looking above the car for a minute, looking over the bleak cityscape. Buildings drove out from the ground and towered forty floors above him. He pulled his warm shirt up around his neck, touching the cut he had from shaving that morning. The valet cringed and moved quickly back towards the door.

Henry, the valet's boss said. He stepped towards the young valet before he had reached the edge of the grey sidewalk. Yes, sir? Henry replied. You are done, the boss said, We have too many of you tonight. Henry looked towards the ground and raised his hand towards his throat. What time is it? he asked. The boss pulled his shirtsleeve up and checked a silver and round watch, Nearly seven. The boss asked for any information that may help the rest of them, Henry knew none. He walked inside the building and took off his vest. He placed his vest in a locker and used a key to lock the door.

Henry did not have a car for himself. There was a time when he did, but since he had moved to the city it seemed the more convenient way to travel was the system of trains. He began to walk towards the train station, which was five blocks north of him. He had a heavy, dark red jacket wrapped around his body. His head was covered with an old wool cap his sister had bought him in Peru.

It was white and grey. It had ear covers that fell down to his neck and a strand falling off either one that could be tied together in case of an emergency. Other people's generic witty comments seemed to follow. People would tell him he looked silly, he would simply reply that he was warm.

The sky was dark, but the streets were lit on either side. He reached the end of the parking lot and followed the road to a crossing. He reached the corner and waited for the light to change. There was too much traffic for an evening

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