I had one task: Put the voting ballots in the mailbox.


    It was a normal Monday afternoon. The week had barely begun, and I was doing what I was supposed to be... perusing the online marketpl━ahem, I mean, school. Anywho, I heard a clank, thump, and a, “Get out of town, you honky-tonked *****!” from the ol’ cowboy insult button outside of my bedroom window (let it be known, it goes off anytime someone steps on the porch, and I can’t seem to find the darned thing). Then the dog barked. Obviously, someone was at the door.


    Hopping out of my seat (not a short joke, I hop, okay?), I slipped on my slides, and went to the door. Through the pair of french doors, I saw a set of packages, then looked up and practically felt my heart leap right out of my chest. A horrid feeling if you’ve ever had the experience. The mailman was already at the mailbox two hours ahead of schedule!


    I turned, and made three (ten) long strides to the dining room table, grabbed the stack of ballots, and rushed to the door. I swung that door open, and closed it on my doggy’s nosy nose! Poor dear. It’s a good thing her pain tolerance is, well... What do you call a dog that doesn’t feel pain? Either way, she’s okay, y’all.


    Once the door was closed, I paused at the edge of the deck. Before me was a lake (a puddle). But clearly, I had to make the ultimate sacrifice for my one task. I leaped as far across the lake as I possibly could (hardly getting a drop of water on me) and raced down the driveway! Next I knew, I was flying down the street after the mailman, and this man was a professional. At the next mailbox, he stopped briefly. Boom! Done. Next. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    You gotta be kidding me, I thought, I’m never gonna catch this guy.


    But that didn’t discourage me. If anything, I ran faster. So fast, I thought my (little) legs were gonna run right out from under me!


    Just as the mailman rounded the corner, a rickety old black car came around, slowed, and stopped. They stared. Not sure what they were doing, but they stared. After a second (as if I could see the lightbulb go off over the vehicle), they put their car in reverse, and went back around the corner! As I came around, I saw them expertly back all the way up, then swing in front of the mailman at the final mailbox in the intersection.


    Yes! I was gonna make it!


    I rounded the mail truck, came to a lovely full bearded mailman, and breathlessly handed him the ballots.


    “Thanks,” I wheezed, backed away, and waved thanks to my hero of the day.


    My legs felt like jello. The walk home was unpleasant. At the very least I accomplished my one━wait a second... My one task was to put the ballots in the mailbox... Whoops.