Concrete Pipelines

Chapter One

Clay Parker had walked this way home at least 200 times since starting his job at the bowling alley. After he lost his shift manager job he was hard pressed to start working as a manager of several preteens. Clay was hard pressed to say the past year had been good to him at all. The financial strain of the unemployment drove a wedge between himself and his wife. Luckily with no kids between them the divorce went as smoothly as signing a paper and moving his stuff into a small apartment. It was to this apartment he was walking to now.

"You doing alright tonight, sir?"

The sudden voice made him jump. He looked over to see a police car with his window rolled down. The cop looked like it was his first week on the job. His eyes were still bright and he was obviously still enthusiastic about working with the general public. He must have noticed that he startled him because he quickly spoke again.

"I'm sorry if I startled you sir! We are just trying to patrol the area a bit more lately. We have had a few car break-ins lately, so keep your eyes peeled and call us if you need anything."

Clay just gave the young cop a nod and when it was obvious he wasn't getting a reply the cop rolled his window up and kept driving. Clay watched the officer leave and kept walking. He wasn't a small man by any means so he was far from worried about anyone bothering him on his walk. Besides if the problem was car break-ins he would certainly be safe walking. As he resumed his walk he started to think about the car he used to own and how sad he had been to sell it. Preoccupied with his thoughts he missed the sound of steps coming up behind him. His final thought was of heated seats and going 85 down the interstate.

The young officer drove just down the next street, wondering what that guy's problem was. The guy he had spoken to right before him had been so friendly and cheerful, he even offered to catch up to the guy in front of him to be more safe.