Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: SMEAR (03/10/16)
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TITLE: Close Call | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jack Taylor
03/12/16 -
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The 18 speed transmission of a Diesel Cummins engine didn’t shift at all as Janey embraced her shoulders and tumbled down the embankment into the icy waters of a ditch. The shock stole her breath away. Her feet fought for solid traction but her head submerged twice before she stood upright in the waist deep water.
Still blinded by mud, Janey spread her arms out like an eagle and clawed to grasp knee-length blades of greenery along the bank. Finding a grip, she used one hand to hold on and one hand to wash her face. The gritty roar of the Kenworth semi-trailer faded quickly in the direction of a brilliant sun nestling between two hills to the west.
Amidst the hissing tires of cars racing by one vehicle slowed and stopped. A car door opened and slammed shut. A strong bass voice called out, “Hello, are you okay down there?”
Janey considered the throb in her left shoulder and knee. “A little shook up is all,” she called back.
A broad-shouldered man side-stepped slowly down the slope and reached for her hand. His jet-black crew cut, square jaw and piercing chocolate eyes caused her to stare as she hesitated to reach for him. He was an almost duplicate of what her adopted brother Tim would have looked like if he had survived Afghanistan.
“Miss,” he coaxed, “I’m here for you. Just take my hand.”
She gave him both hands and he tugged her up out of the slough with a sound like a cow’s foot escaping a mud-hole. He took off his bomber jacket and snugged it over her shoulders. It covered half-way down her thighs.
“Can you believe I just got my hair done?” she joked. She let him lead her back to stand beside his jeep.
He drew a handkerchief from this pocket and wiped her face. “Looks like you got a little smear on your face to go with it,” he said. ‘What’s with you city girls and your extreme make-up sessions?”
She looked east toward the flow of headlights now blinding them. She shuddered inside his jacket and he side-hugged her. “A semi-trailer truck nearly killed me, you know?”
“I saw the crushed orange cone on the shoulder near your van,” he said. “I knew something wasn’t right. I called 911.”
The flashing red and blue lights of a patrol car approached and stopped behind the jeep. An officer stepped out of the car and called out. “Is there trouble?”
“A semi nearly turned her into a smear on the road,” the marine answered. “She’s been in the ditch, cold, muddy and wet. She’ll need an ambulance for her shock.”
Jamey smiled. 'He thinks I was almost a smear on the road. The same thing I thought.'
“Name’s Dwayne,” said the jacket-owner.
“Janey,” said the jacket-wearer. “Sorry for getting mud all over your face with my hair.”
Dwayne made a half-hearted effort to wipe off the smudges on his cheeks. “So, while we’re waiting for the ambulance, what made you pull over?”
Janey thought back. “Stupid bug smeared my windshield.” She looked toward her van. “I was eating a Hershey bar and when I moved to put on the window wipers I dropped a piece and it smeared my white blouse. I was stopping to get some water to wipe off the smears.”
“Where were you heading?” he asked.
“Wedding rehearsal,” she said. “My sister’s getting married.”
He hugged her tighter. “What a coincidence. My brother’s adopted sister is getting married tomorrow, only he can’t make it so I’m going in his place. Can’t have the family reputation getting smeared.”
Janey snuggled into the warmth of his grip. “Your brother’s name wouldn’t have been Tim, would it?”
Dwayne released his hold on her and spun her to face him. “How did you know?”
She hung her head. “He was my adopted brother until he died in Afghanistan.”
No more words were needed. Both their shoulders shook as they held each other and sobbed, tears smearing the mud on both their cheeks. They were family, smears and all.
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Well done...
Blessings~