4:20 p.m. yesterday Kansas City, MO

Well, my underwear stayed dry but I'm wondering how. I'm driving home from work and come to the intersection of 39th Street, Michigan and the ramp down to Bruce E. Watkins Dr. (71 HWY South). The light is red and there's a pickup in front of me. Light turns green and the pickup proceeds out into the intersection (which is kind a 3-way because of Michigan Ave feeding into it right there. (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/%5B300-343%5D+W+39th+Ter+Kansas+City+MO+64111/
At the map site, type in E 39th St & US Highway 71
Kansas City, MO 64101 into the address boxes & hit enter.) I was at the Left side of the Star to the left of Michigan Ave. I go Right or South at 71 Hwy (Bruce R Watkins Dr) to go home at night.

I'm traveling West. As the pickup enters the intersection, crossing Michigan, a southbound yellow car with a black top runs a red light and speeds into the intersection from Michigan. He whips around to turn East and clips the left front of the pickup, not even slowing down. There are two "pops" which I damn well know was gunfire and the yellow car zipped through another red light speeding eastbound on 39th. The pickup stopped and just sat there, stunned, for a minute. As did I, still behind the green light, not having progressed behind the pickup since I had seen the speeding car coming and I didn't want any of it. I ran my hands over me to make sure I hadn't been shot (you read about people who are shot and don't know it) and seem to be whole. There are parts of either the yellow car or the pickup remaining on the highway from their momentary kiss. Traffic slows or stops for a moment and then, as if shrugging, everyone moves on their way including the pickup as if just wanting to deny that the whole thing ever happened.

I'm not so sure this city is safe any more. Too many shootings; too much shit going on. If I could leave, I would. That intersection worries me because of where it is, right in the middle of a very poor run-down area where for years there has been a painted message on a metal box on a utility pole (at the light where I was sitting tonight as the whole incident occurred) that reads "OFF PIGS!"