Mayfly Passing

Rounding the last bend on the way to work one fine spring morning, I was shocked to see a huge cloud of mayflies in flight overhead, and an asshole passing illegally in my lane ahead. Swerving to avoid the asshole, he yanked himself back into his lane and zoomed by as I vigorously flipped him off from the shoulder. By then the mayflies were everywhere around me so I eased off to the side of the road and killed the engine to watch the spectacle unfold.

I caught myseff caring about the mayflies, wanting them to succeed in their final mission of life to reproduce, and caring nothing about the asshole. Startled by my lack of humanity, then giggling at the absurdity of that notion, I enjoyed the sight and whisper-soft sound of nature in action as the mayflies moved out over the lake to get about their mating. Arriving at work a few minutes late, my boss noticed my spotless windshield and greeted me jovially, as was his style. "No mayflies on your windshield", he noted, grokking I had not heartlessly barrelled through their masses to get to work on time. I thought about telling him how an asshole had initiated a pause on the side of the road but just nodded, content with his trust.