The Soda

"The Writer's Cramp"  Winner, 10/27/09

The Soda

The place was dark and eerie,
I could hardly find my way.
The steps were steep and creaky.
The pulsing crowd made me sway.

They heaved me up one more step
slightly closer to my goal.
Heavy breathing on my neck
gave me goosebumps in my soul.

I grabbed the rail, held on tight
and tried to see where to go.
I squinched my eyes, looked around,
then I saw it was my row.

I stepped away from the stairs
and stumbled past someone's knees.
I heard a yell, then a cry,
"Damn it, Lady, watch it, please."

Finally, I found my seat.
I hunkered down in relief.
Something wet beneath me lay,
I jumped up in disbelief.

I saw the squashed container,
ice and soda oozing out.
The kid sitting to my left
all at once began to shout.

"You spilled my drink," he hollered.
"I demand you pay me back!"
Between clenched teeth, I agreed,
determined now to attack.

I snatched the cup, ice and all,
and gave it a hefty throw.
It missed the kid by a mile
and landed somewhere below.

The usher came to get me.
With no chance to explain,
he hauled me to the exit,
sent me out into the rain.

From now on, you'd best believe,
I would look before I sat.
Soda sitting in my seat?
Who would have expected that?