William had been walking for sometime when he finally came upon the rickety old gas station on the side of the road. “About damn time.” He growled, becoming irritated in his quest for a pay-phone.
The jingle bells tied trot he door rang loudly as he pushed his way into the store. The scent of bathroom chemicals and microwave pop-corn assailed his nostrils when he entered the old station. The droning sound of the small T..V. singing “Gilligan’s Isle” came next, as he stepped past the bags of chips that lined the isles on the way to the front counter.
The old man turned from his set to give William A very annoyed look when he reached the wooden desk. William looked about as if impressed. “This is quite a place you got here. Would you happen to have a Pay-phone anywhere about?”
“Tch. Its outside.” The old man Growled between what little teeth he still possessed. He pointed out the dirt covered foggy window, past the old fashioned rd gas pumps.
“Now that’s costumer service!” William chuckled as he slapped the counter, turning away to head for the phone.
The man went immediately back to his show, as if nothing had disturbed him. William found the Pay phone outside, just past the pumps, just as the geezer had promised.
Fishing about in his pockets for some quarters, he shoved them into the collector. The crisp buttons almost didn’t want to dial the number.
It rang a few times.
“Hello?”
“Callie?”
“Oh, what now Will?”
“Yeah, this one wasn’t my fault. If you would check the oil once in awhile....”
“What do you need?” She growled, voice dripping with irritation.
“Well, for starters, a two truck and/or a ride into town.”
“Ugh. Were are you?”
“At some run down crappy gas station, off the side of I-80, by the Speedway. The car is further down the road with a blown engine.”
“I’ll send someone for the car. I’m sure you can manage your own way home.”She hung up.
He held the phone with a surly look on his face. “Sorry to interrupt your tea party.” He snarled, slamming the receiver down. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to walk into salt lake just yet. Perhaps the geezer inside could provide him with some fun.
*
“So I ask myself-Why the hell didn’t I steal her car, too?” Will gave the man a grin as he slapped the counter top.
The old man sat gaping at him, his hand clutching the shotgun under the wooden counter.
“Son, are you crazy?” He asked, inching the gun closer.
Will erupted in laughter.
“I think you better get out of here, now” The old man growled.
“She’ll be better at it than most, you know,” Will said, a serious look on his face. “Beautiful, lethal and cruel to boot. Ha. What more could you ask for?”
The old man raised the gun. “No foolin.’ skin out, or I’ll blow you away.”
Will sighed. “Why do you have to be like that, Hal?”He asked, snatching the shotgun out of Hals old hands with supernatural quickness. “I was just trying to have a pleasant conversation, with you, of all the people I could pick, and you whip out a gun.” Will rolled his eyes, playing with the gun he had just taken.
“Now, don’t over react, son.” The old mans face twisted in shock and fear.
Will looked at the gun. “Which car is yours?” he said, pointing out the window.
“The rusted red truck. Here’s the keys-take it.” the man said tossing the key ring at Will.
“Wow, your so generous, thanks!” He said enthusiastically. “I’m feeling kinda thirsty.” He said, eyeing the old man.
“Take whatever you want...”
“Don’t worry; I was planning on it.” Will said, moving toward the counter.
*
“It thirty-two degrees out there, make sure you dress warm! Its D.J. Mac on 103.5 golden oldies sliding right on in to 3:30 A.M...” The radios hissed and popped as Will turned the dial in an attempt to find something ‘less lame’.
“So, do you think you’re gonna get fired when you’re boss finds out you left early? Hell, you can tell the old battle-axe it was my fault.” Will slapped the shoulder of the corpse in the passengers seat as if they were dear old friends.
Hal, the old man, stared out of the wind shield with his cold dead eyes. The rusty truck roared down I-80, The sleepy city of Grantsville breezing past them. Will hit a bump in the road, causing the body to slump over in the seat toward Will
“Hal! Don’t you know its illegal to ride in a vehicle without a seatbelt?” Will sounded exasperated, as if they had this conversation many times before. “The Cops are ‘Cracking down’, remember?” Will grabbed his head by the few wispy white hairs he had possessed and threw his body back into the passengers seat. Will reached across the corpse and grabbed the strap. He locked Hal in place and turned back to the road.
“Are you trying to get us busted, captain buzz-kill?” Will smiled. “You would like that, wouldn’t you?”He sneered.
Up the road, will could see the outline of a hitchhiker in the black night.
“Oh, look, a hitcher. Should we offer them a ride?” Hal slumped forward in the seat.
“Yeah, You’re probably right.” They blew past the ragged individual with his thumb out to traffic.
An hour and a half later, they were finally pulling of the highway and on to a main road, winding its way through South Salt Lake County.
“Well, were almost home, Hal. Won’t Miss M ika be so thrilled when she sees how well her roses bloom next year! People make excellent plant food.”
Will snickered as he drove the truck up the long drive way attached to the little brown brick, unassuming house in the middle of the street.
He used the door opener to open the garage, and pulled the car into the slot where the one that had just broke down went. He got out and began rummaging about the garage. “Ha-ha, found it!” He waved the shovel about triumphantly.
“Well Hal,” He said, opening the passengers side door. “Its been a blast, but I have to bury you now. Don’t worry, you’ll get recycled.” Will undid the seat belt as he hefted Hals carcass from the car. He exited the back door, and quickly gave a scan for any prying neighbors. It appeared he was the only person awake.
Will dug as quietly as anyone else would have in his shoes, only twice as fast. When Hal was safely tucked away under Mika’s roses, he looked about one more time, and, seeing no one, opened the door to the garage and tossed the shovel inside. He slammed the door to the garage shut and walked up to the sliding glass window.
He could hear explosions and warpy sounds. Must be watching a movie. He slid back the glass and peered through the curtains. Mika sat, positively glued to the T.V. mouth hanging open in wonder. Will walked in, pushing away the curtains and avoiding the T.V. so as not to get sucked in.
Mikas weird eyes settled on him almost immediately, and she studied him intently. A color so brown it was red became accusing. “You did something bad, didn’t you, will?”
Will looked offended. “What! No I did something good for a change.”
“Right, like what?” Mika rolled her eyes.
“Don’t you worry about it.”
Walter, who had been pretending to read a book, snorted and watched the T.V. out of the corner of his eyes.
“Meh. You guys suck.” Will said, retreating down the long staircase. The darkness swallowed him, right before he kicked the door closed.
Mika turned back to her movie, and Walter continued to pretend to read his book.
Chapter three-
- Printer-friendly version
- Login or register to post comments
- Send to friend
