Hallie
Most people don’t know this, but traffic cones have personalities,
you won’t catch one chatting on the sidewalk, but they still have ways of showing who they are,
Some are bold, some lazy, and one in particular was always early.
Her name was Carlette.
Carlette was the earliest traffic cone in all of Department number 67, Every morning at 4:00 a.m. Carlette would roll out of the supply shed, and check the day’s construction schedule. And so Carlette always arrived before the jackhammer operators, even before the first confused jogger.
One morning, however, something strange happened…
Carlette rolled out at 3:59 a.m. instead of 4:00.The yard was quiet, too quiet. When she reached the intersection leading to Department number 67, she saw something that made her little cone body shake in fear, the street was already blocked off…
By cones. Dozens of them, Perfectly aligned, All identical. All facing the same way,
All. facing. Her…
Carlette rolled closer, “Excuse me,” she said politely, “This intersection is on my route.” a Older. More scuffed cone responded. Its orange had faded to a soft, tired peach.
The old cone didn’t move,
“You’re early,” it said.
Carlette paused. “I’m always early.”
“Not this early.”
“Who are you?” Carlette asked
“We’re replacements,” said the old cone.
“For what?”
The old cone didn’t answer right away.
“Have you ever wondered,” the old cone said, “why the schedule never changes?”
“No,” she said. “It’s just… the schedule.”
The old cone sighed, Carlette felt a strange feeling of fear
“I’m not that early,” she said.
“You are today.”
“What happens now?” she asked.
The old cone rolled aside a few inches, there was a gap in the perfect line. Just big enough for one cone.
“You can take your place,” “You won’t need a route anymore.”
Carlette stared at the empty space. It was… comfortable-looking
Carlette looked at the identical cones again. For the first time, she noticed something strange.
None of them had names.
She rolled backward.
“No,” she said. “I’m early because I like being early.”
For a moment, nothing moved. The city held its breath.
Then, far away, Carlette heard it.
The supply shed door. Opening.
Behind her, the city began to wake up.
And for the very first time in her life…
Carlette was late.
Something inside her felt wrong
For once no one needed her to do their jobs,
She wasn’t necessary.