Writing Prompt: The streets were clogged with people.

Morning all and a happy Thursday to you. Allergens are still high, nose is still dripping but the sinus pressure has eased. I am going sans allergy meds today. We’ll see how that works out. I have high hopes though. My day includes very limited amounts of time outside. So it should be fine. But while it is fine, let’s get writing and take advantage of the fine. Are you ready for today’s prompt? fabulous. Let’s get to it then.

You know, I really like the wide open sentence starters. Besides knowing there was a crowd, I started with nothing. I think I originally thought it would be a concert or something but then the words came out and took a different direction. I’m sure I’d have to figure out what the event was before continuing further, but I kinda like it.

Thursday, May 27^th: The streets were clogged with people.

The streets were clogged with people.  No one it seemed wanted to miss out on the events.  It was foolish as nothing could be seen from street level, at least not as far back as we were.  We would have had a better view if we had stayed home and watched on television. 

However some things had to be seen in person.

Or at least that was my thought.  If I see it with my own eyes, I will believe.  Television could produce any number of smoke and mirrors and they could cut away from the parts I most wanted to see at any time.  In addition there were the commentators. They would put their own spin on it, trying to control my impressions. 

That they would be impartial wasn’t a thought that even skittered across my mind.  I had long ago stopped expecting impartiality from the news.  No one now reported events by just giving the facts.  They had to skew them in favor of their set view point instead of letting the fact speak for themselves.

As I stood in the middle of the crowd I wondered if my opinion of the inability of the press to be impartial was the cause of everyone else’s arrival or if they just couldn’t help themselves.

Whatever the cause, there was no going back now.  I was stuck.  I arrived early, hoping to be close to the front.  Maybe not close enough to get the same view as the cameras, but close enough to see.  In reality, I didn’t think I wanted a front row seat.  Things were still a bit unsettled and still slightly dangerous for that.  I wanted to be able to see but still remain comfortably within the crowd a cushion of onlookers between me and events. 

It might have been cowardly, but although I woke up early enough for a front row seat, I dragged my feet just enough to insure that I would not be front and enter. 

Or so I thought.

I drastically miscalculated.

From where I stood, I could see the stage erected in the center of the park.  I could see the lights and tell that there were people moving about.  I could even tell that they were people, vaguely making out the shapes.  However the park was filled on all sides with people as were all of the streets leading to the park.  I was stuck in the middle of Main Street, several blocks away from the park.  It was only the elevation of the street that allowed me to see anything.  

In fact because the land undulated along main, I had a better view than some of those who were a little closer.  Main sloped down toward the park at a relatively gentle angle but then as it approached there was a slight rise before it once again descended into park land.  I was above the dip which is why I could see the people moving and even the edge of the stage. 

I thought about returning home.  I knew that despite the commentary, the television would give me a better view.  However at this point I could not move.  I was packed like a sardine.  My movements were dependent on those besie me.  We moved as one or not at all.  As the time for the announcement drew nearer, not t all was the way those near me decided to move.  They seemed to have made peace with their vantage point, realizing that others had it worse and not want ing to give up what little sight they had. 

Ahead, the lights grew noticeably brighter. I winced in the light.  The crowd grew quiet in expectation.  My eyes adjusted to the light, however during their adjustment something happened that I didn’t see.

Then, the screams began.