I am in L.A. I am inside a high-rise building and I think I work here. As I look out through the window I see a dust cloud of gigantic proportions approaching the city from the direction of the ocean. I realize that a nuclear explosion has taken place on Hawaii and that we are now seeing the effects even in L.A. The cloud is so enormous and overwhelming that I cannot help looking at it. I know that it will soon hit the building and I move away from the windows to a room where everyone else has gathered. It is a room without windows. Some people are drinking coffee and others have brought bagels and other breakfast items. No one is panicking and it almost seems like a regular coffee break. Afterward, when I go back to the office to see what has happened, shattered glass cover the floor. I exit the building and a depressing twilight has set itself on the city.

I am walking home. It is getting late and I probably should have taken a taxi but I live so close by that it would seem silly to take a cab for such a short ride. I am pretty much alone and I cross a street. Now I see a young man, a teenager, and I will have to walk past him. I try to walk away from him as not to disturb him or upset him. I can sense that he is unpredictable. I avoid making any eye contact with him and just hurry my steps as I walk past him. I do not turn my head. As I have walked about fifteen yards away I hear his voice. He says:
'I am going to shoot you.' I keep walking but am full of fear. Will he? I ignore him and don't show my reaction. He repeats his threat: 'I am going to shoot you.' I am too afraid to turn around to see if he even has a gun. I remember that he wears a red hooded sweater. I am not willing to take a chance. Is he bluffing or will he really kill me? If I just keep walking, will he let me go or will it make him even more furious? I work my way diagonally across the empty street toward a Mexican restaurant. His voice says: 'If you go into the restaurant I will kill you.' The last few steps before I am inside the restaurant. I do not turn around to look at him. I can feel the aim at my back and I wait for the pain. I open the door and enter.