Gate Race

Time — 11:21 p.m. We can make it — if we're lucky.

If we get a green light at the Wards Road light and greensalltheway past River Ridge ... and ifwe don'tget behind any grandma drivers . . . and there is not a lineatthegate ... we shouldn't have any trouble. On to Wards Road . . . heading toward the mall Green light at Krogers good The lightat Wendy's is red.Shucks.Start breaking . . . c'mon. There itgoes, green Hit the gas

Oh was that a cop? Am I speeding? No Good He's turning the other way.

There's a few cars at the light Can Iget into the turn lane? Yeah Go Stay green oh yellow? Can I make it?Have to ... go. No problem. Time — 11:26.

Keep going . . . you're going to make it. The light at the Ground Round is green . . . keep it at 45.Someone's coming off the expressway Do Iget over? No, he can wait

Green lights at River Ridge Up onto Candlcrs Mountain Road Change lanes Bring it up to 55 Go Time? 11:29 Ican make theGE corner at45 . . . well, maybe I betterslow to25.It's not that important Around the corner

Give it some gas Blinker Onto Libety Road Go Up over the hill Look,the lightis still blinkingyellow Almost there we're going to do it. Slow for the corner. Around the corner . . . onto the bridge

No! The light changes to red. It'sover. You've lost the gate race. You're late. Man! So close!

You slow and cross the bridge You and your passengers pull out your ID's So close

The guard steps out of the shack. You slow to a stop and roll down your window.

The guard smiles He enjoys this,you think "Close enough," he says