I was loitering in the parking lot when the armed robber ran out of the store. He saw me, turned, and raised his pistol. My friends scattered. I couldn’t move. Twelve years old and staring down the barrel of a gun. I remembered all the times I’d seen shootouts on TV. I wondered if it would hurt to die. Four police cars arrived at the same time, lights flashing, sirens blaring. The robber spun around to face them, and I dove under a pickup. He was in the back seat of the cruiser by the time I opened my eyes.
Jeff Kennedy is a lifelong author and playwright. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. Bluesky: @jkennedy60.bsky.social Facebook and X: @JKennedy60