5 minutes after midnight, br Friday, br September 24th, br 2004, br br from outside, br on the street, br somewhere br beneath my window, br a woman screams, br and, br screams br again. br br I rush to see what is happening. br Is someone br in trouble? br Does someone br need my help? br br Three girls fumble down the road, br each of them on 'roller-blades' br they are obviously new to the activity. br br Their arms br flail br wildley br in a frantic, br constant br attempt br to maintain balance br and br dignity. br br I suppose that br one of them br has just had a close call. br br a near encounter br with br painful br injury br br One of them yells out: br br “That was a close one, Megan Leavy! ” br br They then br disappear br down the street br into the blackness, br arms br still flailing br wildley br br A strange thing to be heard br on an empty street, br In the night, br in the dark, br 5 minutes br after midnight, br br I am witness to this. br although, br they don’t know it. br br And, br never will. br br Another moment br lost in time.br br Derek R.