ON THE ROAD

You're sitting there in the bar's half-light, and slowly you become aware of a drone cutting through the music and conversation, a drone with more than a touch of growl in it, widening, getting richer, more complex, as it gets louder. Hum the bass note, go ahead, hum it to yourself, and listen to the other parts working together in harmony, the polyrhythms of machinery until they're right outside: ENGINE ENGINE ENGINE ENGINE ahhhh...

Now, and only now, is it cool to cock your head a bit towards the window to see the scoots starting their easy rest on the chromed kickstand, front forks extended lazily and arrogantly in a reluctant concession to the laws of physics.