Night Drive West

[Erin Rhodes]

Following is my first clumsy attempt at a vignette. It's called;

"Night Drive West'

Through the open windows came the sweet smell of freshly mowed alfalfa, and the sound of crickets by the roadside. Fireflies flickered against the dark shapes of trees and bushes. The outlines of distant barns and houses were lit by the blue glow of sodium lamps. She was tired but happy, enjoying the soft breeze off the land through her hair and the hum of the road through the steering wheel in her manicured hands. The radio was on to some country station but turned so low as to be barely heard. Traffic was light mostly trucks, headed like her, towards the Interstate.

It had been warm during the day and it was cooling off slightly at this hour, still, she felt comfortable in her shorts and sandals. A while back she'd pulled a hooded zip up sweatshirt over her short-sleeved Tee, more to cover her arms than because she was cold. Her bare legs still tingled with the feel of being freshly shaved that morning. She ran her hand across her chest feeling the natural weight of the new forms in her bra. Glancing at the dash she was again reminded that decision time was coming up - the gas gauge was teasing the 'E' mark. The last town she passed through had a gas station but she didn't like the looks of it, too small possibly not even self serve.

The freeway interchange was coming up - she could see the glow of lights above the trees and fields. Knowing there'd be several stations to choose from made her feel better. Still it meant getting out of the car into those bright lights. She glanced up at the rearview mirror and turned on the overhead. The hair looked good - a bit messy but the style was loose anyway. The stylist at the salon said it would be good for traveling. Checking her makeup she thought a bit more mascara might not hurt, those lights can be bright after all. Expertly she did a quick touch up in the mirror - as she had seen dozens of other girls to countless times during morning rush hour. Remembering 'his' impatience at those times she smiled. ' I guess it depends on who's driving' , she thought - laughing to herself.

Putting her purse back on the passenger seat she felt herself tense slightly as she slowed for the first intersection. An all night dinner flashed its neon lights on one corner and up ahead several semis were slowing for a brightly lit truck stop, 'I'll pass on that' she thought. At the next intersection was a big Chevron station and minute mart. She could see 2 islands of pumps on both sides and only one other car. Quickly the decision was made and she signaled and pulled in. Her heart started to race a little as she fumbled through her purse for her credit card. Looking up she was shocked to see an attendant pointing at her from the island ahead. Then, relieved, she realized she had left her lights on. Turning them off and taking the keys she opened the door and quickly stepped to the pump- her sandals making a slapping sound as they hit the pavement.

Inserting her card and selecting her grade, she unlocked the gas cap and placing the nozzle started to pump, the smell of gas was strong. As the pump ran on she had the feeling someone was looking at her. Afraid to look up too suddenly she slowly looked back towards her open car door, nothing. Looking around all was quiet, the attendant seemed to have disappeared. She could hear voices inside the minute mart and someone cough but nobody seemed to be paying any attention to her. Another car pulled in to the island behind her 'Hurry" she thought as she again felt a flush of nervousness. The gas nozzle made a loud click and with a sigh she disconnected the hose and placed it back on the pump.

Looking up for her receipt she was dismayed to see the digital sign flashing 'Payment voided please pay inside'. Taking her card she quickly checked out the minute mart. Several more cars had, in the meantime, pulled in. It was busy inside and it looked like there was a line at the cash register. With her heart racing now, she reached across the seat and grabbed her purse, too afraid even to take a quick look in the mirror. 'Oh god', she thought, 'I knew this would happen sooner or later, just not so soon.'

Remembering to take short steps she walked across the brightly lit pavement and entered the mart feeling half naked, her comfortable shorts of the morning now seemed way too short, her tight fitting top way too tight. It seemed just as bright inside as outside, too bright. Most of the customers seemed to be teenagers, several boys milled around the cash register, trying to buy cigarettes, a group of girls giggled by the beverage racks. She felt a feeling of panic starting to come on and wanted to turn and run, but too many had seen her come in. 'Can I help you over here miss' a voice said, 'miss?'. The attendant she had seen at the pumps had come out of a back room and was unlocking the second cash register. 'Miss?' he said again, staring at her. She must have looked like she was in a daze, several of the boys also turned to look at her. Without seeming to notice them she clutched her purse and stepped up to the counter, and felt one of the boys continuing to stare. 'Which Pump?', the clerk asked, looking tired and irritable. With another surge of panic she realized that she hadn't looked at the pump number. She didn't know what to say and was afraid to speak. Without knowing what else to do she held up her hand and started towards the door. " She's on pump 6, its not taking them cards agin " , the other clerk, mumbled as he handed one of the teenagers some change.

With a sigh she walked back to the register she handed her clerk her credit card, heart pounding. ' Sorry miss,' he said as he ran it through the swipe. 'We've been having trouble with that pump', he said. She suddenly felt bolder and remembering the long drive ahead, she realized she could use some water. Glancing to the side she grabbed two bottles of drinking water from a nearby rack and placed them on the counter. 'Oh sorry, I already rang you up' , grumbled the clerk. But she had already opened her purse and pulled out a five dollar bill. " There's cold ones in the cooler' he said, 'price is the same'. She briefly looked up, he was looking right at her and smiling. Without a word she smiled back, just then the register stopped and he gave her the receipt to sign. Again she felt that panic, she quickly grabbed the pen and with a trembling hand scribbled the signature. Would the clerk notice it was 'his' name? Would he notice that her hands were slightly big for a woman, even with the bracelets, rings and nail polish? Would he ask her anymore questions? Then, without hardly glancing at the name on the back, the clerk handed her the card and receipt without even a 'thank you'.

Quickly she stuffed both in her purse and turned to go, ' wait Miss, you forgot your water', said the clerk. Without thinking she said 'oh I'll get them from the cooler', then felt herself flush as she realized how unfeminine her voice must have sounded. Turning towards the cooler, feeling the clerk's eyes on her back she realized the group of teenage girls was still huddled together between her and the cooler and staring right at her! She had to walk right past them to open the door. As she passed them one said, 'I love your sandals' . Fearing the worst she looked up and noticed that the girl was smiling pleasantly, she smiled back without a word and took two bottles of water from the cooler and headed for the door.

Just as she got to the door she looked up to see a burly state trooper coming in on the other side, her heart almost stopped, but before she could take a breath, he opened the door for her and stepped aside. " Evening miss" he said smiling. Clutching her purse and the 2 water bottles she smiled back and tried to remember to walk properly as she hurried back to her car. Fumbling with the water bottles and purse, she dropped her keys as she was trying to open the door. At the last minute she remembered to bend daintily at the knee to pick them up. She quickly got in her car, remembering to get in seat first keeping her legs together and then swing them in. Just as she was in mid swing - the state trooper walked past on the way to back to his car. Giving her legs an admiring glance he smiled again and tipped his hat. 'Well... they always have been my best feature', she thought to herself, grinning.

Back on the road, heading west on the Interstate, her breathing back to normal, the radio back on with a country voice singing to her softly, she smiled, feeling the tension draining out of her and knowing that she'd just passed some sort of test. 'What would come next?' she wondered, looking back at 'herself' smiling in the mirror.

Erin Rhodes 12/04

[DonnaT]

Well done Erin! I could just imagine that happening, and enjoying it after the adrenilin rush calmed down.