Cross Roads

Mickey was hiding behind Cue’s house, across the parking lot. He was the sheriff. There were key actors planted inside Sticks, waiting for the bad man to enter, and more actors waiting outside. The bad guy was down the street mounted on a horse, ready to ride into town. His cell phone rang to tell him it was Showtime.

The horse strolled into the parking lot. The bad cowboy dismounted, tied it up to a railing, and walked into Sticks. Piano music was echoing what one might hear in a great western movie, and there was a table in the corner where some men were playing poker. The bad cowboy went to the poker table and sat with the others. “Deal me in.” They played for a few minutes when the bad guy jumped to his feet and pulled a gun out of his holster. “I smell a cheater in here.” He fired the gun and one of the poker players fell over. “And you.” The bad cowboy pointed at another man sitting across from him. Terrified, the man jumped up and ran to the door before the cowboy could finish his words. The bad cowboy followed him. Outside, he pointed his guns upward and fired three more shots. That was Mickey’s cue.

Women started screaming and running different directions, and then the sheriff came into sight. In a powerful, John Wayne voice, the sheriff yelled to the bad cowboy. “Well son, I’m gonna ask ya ta put away that gun.  You’re scarin’ the nice people of this ere town.”

“Sheriff, what kinda’ stinkin’ town are you runnin’ here, anyway?” The bad guy faced the sheriff, and put his gun back in the holster but held onto it firmly, ready to pull it out and take his best shot.

“Son, you hop on your horse and get on outa’ town. I’m gonna count ta three, an you’d better be movin’. One… two… thr.”

The cowboy pulled for his gun but the sheriff was too fast. He whipped his out in a flash, and shot the bad man dead. The townspeople ran into the scene, clapping and cheering for their sheriff. A baby could be heard crying from somewhere.

The audience was laughing and clapping, and cars were stopped along the side of the road. The response to Katie’s play was astounding, and Mickey had people patting him on the back for his fine performance.