Stuck At The Lights !

The temporary traffic lights seemed to be taking forever to change from red to green. There was no way that Debbi could run along the road to meet Carol and Derek in the van, since there was debris and ditches from whatever it was the workmen were doing. Not to mention the danger from traffic if the lights changed. She was stuck naked and unmasked and now a curious group was closing in in her.

'What's going on ?', "Why have you stopped running ?', "Is it a publicity stunt ? For a charity ?', 'Lost a bet have you ?'

'Yeah, yeah, I lost a bet, OK ?'

'But why have you stopped running ?'

'I was supposed to be getting picked up here but there's these sodding roadworks.'

Fortunately the crowd was good natured and amused, especially by the dual mishaps of Debbi losing her mask and now not being picked up. Those who might be offended were averting their gaze and hurriedly moving on. But that left many who were content to stay surrounding Debbi to see how this played out. And since she was no longer running, it was easy for them to focus and take as many photos as they wanted. "No I'm not bloody posing" said Debbi in answer to requests for selfies etc. Peering anxiously down the road, she was relieved to see the lights finally change but the cycle only let a limited number of vehicles through and they changed again before the van could make it, though it was now second in line.

Debbi didn't recognize anyone in particular in the crowd but evidently some knew her. 'Yeah, it's Debbi, used to come in the pub regularly with her ex', ' I know her, she's an I.T. expert. Did some work for our company.'

Someone pinched her bum. "Hey !" she squealed, turning round. 'Yeah, stop that, leave her alone' someone intervened. 'Look out, here comes PC Plod' another suddenly shouted as a policeman was seen to be approaching. 'All gather round her, shield her from view, don't want her getting arrested !'

The lights changed again and Derek's van sped into the lay-by. Carol jumped out and opened the back doors and Debbi broke from the crowd to leap into the back, falling in a heap as Carol joined her and closed the doors from the inside, banging on the panel for Derek to go. "Sorry about that, none of us knew there were these roadworks" Carol said. "What happened to the mask ?"