The Hiker

Every time I drove over this railroad crossing I would see a ghost. 

Not any other railroad crossing, just this one. I know it was just the bar thing, whatever its called, but I guess my brain would interpret that thing as a guy I saw him very clearly, and it was always the same dude. I would drive by, think I saw some dude dressed in hiking gear from the early 80s. It was one of those windbreakers. In kind of earthy tones. Like brick red and tan. It was a good fit, and the guy looked like  a hiker, all right? No, I didn't see a backpack. Haven't you ever looked at someone and thought to yourself, I bet this motherfucker hikes? 

Yeah, and I only saw him for like a split second literally out of the corner of my eye. I know that seems like a lot of detail but it happened a lot of times. Every time I go over that particular intersection, all right? That means every day for years. To be honest, I knew right away this guy was a hiker. It did't take long. I don't know why, but he was also wearing one of those old-fashioned bicycling caps, the tight fitting hats with the tiny bill. Maybe that's why I thought early 80s when I saw him. Hell, maybe that's why I thought he was a ghost, because I haven't seen one of those stupid hats in decades. Ridiculous right? I always saw him out of corner of my eye. As I was crossing the railroad tracks there he was. There he was. So I would whip my head around and all that was there was this fucking turnstile. No that's not the right word. 

Anyway, this happened enough times that I got to where I was expecting it. I would go over that railroad track, I would look to the left at that bar thingy. You know what I'm talking about, right? It's that thing that comes down to block traffic when there's a train coming. the bar. Red and white striped with lights on it. What are those called?

So that's why I was looking to the left when this jackass stepped out into the road right in front of me. from the right. No, officer, I don't know why he was wearing that same early 80s hiking jacket and goofy hat. Maybe he's a connoisseur. Maybe he shops at fucking Goodwill. No, you're right. Shopped. Past tense.

I wonder if I'll see him again.