DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON

I THINK HEMINGWAY WROTE A BOOK WITH THAT TITLE..BUT I THINK HE WAS TALKING ABOUT A BULL IN THE ARENA; I AM TALKING ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS, MY FRIENDS.  I WENT TO WORK FOR A MAJOR OIL COMPANY AS A RESERACH TECH HERE IN TULSA.  THIS COMPANY HAD A TEST SITE CALLED BIRD CREEK.  THAT AFTERNOON, A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES WENT TO BIRD CREEK TO ASSESS ANOTHER COMPANY'S DEMONSTRATION  OF AN EXPLOSIVE TO BE LOWERED INTO A WELL AND SET OFF IN ORDER TO FRACTURE THE STRATA DOWN BELOW.  THE EXPLOSIVE CYLINDER WAS POSITIONED CAREFULLY OVER THE TEST WELL AND THEN LOWERED.  SCARCELY AFTER THE CYLINDER HAD ENTERED THE WELL, IT WENT OFF.   THE FIRST REALIZATION OF SOMETHING WRONG CAME FROM THE POWER COMPANY.  THE ELECTRICITY HAD GONE OFF IN A CERTAIN SECTION OF TOWN.  THE CREWS WERE SENT OUT TO SEARCH FOR THE TROUBLE. THEY FOUND IT AT BIRD CREEK.. A LARGE TRUCK HAD BEEN BLOWN INTO THE AIR AND CAME DOWN ON SOME POWER LINES....SHREDS OF FLESH WERE EVERY WHERE.  ONE PERSON SURVIVED FOR AHILE, AND THEN DIED.  THE GROUND WAS MARKED OFF IN SQUARES AND NOTES TAKEN ON WHAT WAS FOUND WHERE....SEVEN WONDERFUL AND BRIGHT PEOPLE WERE LAID TO REST..IN PARTS...ALL CLOSED CASKET SERVICES.  I REMEMBER ONE OF THE YOUNGER ONES SAID 'HI, BOB' AS HE GOT ONTO THE ELEVATOR THAT MORNING....NOT SURE THERE IS A POINT TO ALL OF THIS.....IT SURE MADE A DENT IN A FEW FAMILES.....KIDS WITHOUT FATHERS, WIVES WITHOUT HUSBANDS...MOTHERS WITHOUT SONS....LIKE A POET SAID ONCE ABOUT GHOST TOWNS:  "ONE BY ONE, THEY BECAME SHADES'