One Horsepower

“I’m telling you it was her fault!”

            “And you came to a complete stop?”

            “Of course I did. You know I’m a good rider.”

            “You didn’t just happen to nudge Whiskey through the intersection, did you?”

            “No! Now c’mon―we can’t afford a ticket now. The County-Mounty wasn’t even there. He’s taking her word against mine because she was on a thoroughbred. Who does she think she is, riding a stallion during rush hour?”

            “Did Whiskey bite her?”

            “Only after she slapped him. I’d have bitten her myself but…”

            “Why didn’t you just ride off? It’s not like there are any traffic cameras anymore.”

            “It’s the principle of the thing. She rode through the stop sign like she was Queen Victoria on that white horse of hers. Stop means stop.”

            “You should go see our attorney. He’ll know what to do.”

            “Yeah, and he’ll bury us in paperwork. That’s what happened the last time. Ever since the electricity was turned off, he’s had his secretary type a hundred pages of legal mumbo-jumbo on that clackety old Underwood to justify his high prices.”

            “Well, you can’t afford to lose your rider’s license. How will you get to work?”

            “I should have bought a bike instead. It’s a lot less expensive to operate and doesn’t eat us out of house and home.”

            “You know we can’t afford a bike! Without the factories, they all have to be built by hand. You may as well wish for a new suit or a decent mattress, all the good it would do.”

            “Alright, alright; I’ll ride into town and see if I can get in to see him.”

            “While you’re at it, stop at the market and see if there are any fresh vegetables. Maggie’s boys got home from the farm and said they just finished picking sweet corn. Maybe we can get some before all the town folk snap it up.”

            “I’m all out of cash. You have any?”

            “You’ll have to stop at the bank.”

            “It’s after 3. They’ll be closed by the time I get there.”

            “Just use the AT…sorry. I can’t stand this. Why can’t we use just a little carbon, enough to make things convenient again?”

            “We’re saving the planet.”

            “Yeah. For the horses and the insects.”

            “Don’t worry darling. It won’t be long before they figure something out.”

            “Try to get back before dark. You know I hate to eat by candlelight.”