Sound Observation 2

The soft hissing of the fire set the atmospheric tone at Cracker Barrel. This peace came to an abrupt halt when a log shifted. Pop. A shower of sparks. A gentle roar. I picked up my water glass and was greeted by the ice as it was clinking to the glass. It was as if they were shrieking fearfully, “Don’t get me!”  The involuntary habit of my heel tapping against the floor was interrupted when I could briefly make out the echoes of traffic roaring from both directions. The gentleman two tables behind me distracted a restaurant of dialogue, almost unawaringly, when he let out a high-pitch chortle. As silence seeped at our table, I could hear him gasping for air.