Soap Opera (Episode #7) Poem by Bryan Corbett

Soap Opera (episode #7)
'Throwback Thursday: When Hudson Met Frank'

Sometime in 1994
a younger Hudson was stranded in the middle of the 405 freeway
traffic was already at a stand still before his Jaguar XJ blew a rear tire
and now he was patiently waiting for a tow truck
to take him away from all these honking horns
and middle fingers

when a stranger with long hair
pulled up behind him on a Harley Davidson,
stopped, dismounted his motorcycle,
approached the driver's side window, and knocked
Hudson waved him away, but the stranger knocked again

Hudson finally rolled down the window
'Hey, buddy, you're really screwing up the works around here,
can I help you get that spare tire on your car? '
'No. Thank you. The tow truck will be along any time now.'
the stranger looked up and back at the parking lot of a freeway
'Not anytime soon, I can promise you that, ' the stranger said.

reluctantly, Hudson got out of his car and unlocked the trunk
the stranger reached in and grabbed the spare tire
and had the blown tire replaced in less than five minutes
Hudson tried to hand the stranger a hundred dollar bill
but the stranger shook his head and said no thank you

then Hudson reached into his sports jacket, removed a business card,
and handed it to the stranger, 'If you ever need anything, feel free to call me.'
the stranger looked down at the card for a moment: Fowler Construction
'I could use a job. Been out of work for the better part of three months.'

'Consider it done. Call me tomorrow.'
the stranger put out his hand, 'The name's Frank. Frank Storm.'
Hudson shook his hand, 'Thank you, Frank. Been sitting in that damn
car for the last hour and you were the ONLY person to stop
and offer to lend me a hand. You call me tomorrow.
And you'll start working whenever you want.'

Hudson turned and got back into his car
while Frank jumped back on his bike
and took off down the freeway
splitting lanes


to be continued...