Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 40403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Not bothering to shower, I run straight to my car cursing the dang rain that is now making me look like a wet cat. This is my favorite time of year though. I love fall. The leaves are turning colors and falling, the weather has a crisp chill to it, but smells fresh and like cinnamon and the weather. I love fall storms in September, but right now I could use a break. Thank goodness my hair is in a ponytail. Reaching for my towel I leave in the car, I try to dry my legs and face, not bothering with my hair. I turn on the heat, giving thanks for a working heater since I am still in my cheerleading outfit and pull out of the parking lot. “Crap.” I mumble under my breath. The rain is really coming down hard, so much so that I can barely see in front of me. My phone is buzzing beside me, reminding me my mother is a neurotic mess and I don’t have time for her right now.
I drive down the street taking the path I have taken everyday for the last four years, not worried when I feel something bump and then pop. My car begins to jerk and scream leaves my mouth. I try to calm myself as I fight to control the car that right now I am convinced is possessed. “Please not now.” I cry pulling it to the right.
It feels like forever before the car stops in front of what I think is a church. Leaning back, I clutch my chest trying to calm my palpitating heart and force myself to breathe. I know I have to get out and check to see what happened, but I really don’t want to. “Dang it.” I look in the backseat and find my umbrella. Getting out of the car I immediately see my tire has blown. I hang my head because I know I don’t have a spare and this is my fault. My best friend Mandy, her brother, told me weeks ago when I was last at their house that my tires were bald or some crazy word and that I should get new ones immediately before this very thing happened.
I continue to stare at the evidence of my lack of concentration. See, I consider myself smart, responsible and intuitive, except for during cheer season. As the co-captain for the second year in a row, my mind is always on formations, practice, motivational ideas, reformed uniforms and competitions. During this time of year which lasts until February, my mind is a one stop cheering shop and everything else is lost, forgotten and misplaced, including new tires apparently.
My mind goes back to the spare I should have held onto but I can’t find it in me to regret my decision. I gave it to the gardener last month who had a flat and needed it to make it home to his daughter Graciella’s ballerina recital. “Great. Now what?” I feel like I want to cry. Of course this would happen to me.
Here I am standing in the middle of the street like a moron, crying in the rain which should be ironic and feeling sorry for myself when I remember this little card my father gave me. Leaning into the car, I pull it from my purse and pray this really works. Going through the prompts, I practically want to do a somersault when the motor club says they will pick me up in twenty minutes.
Why is it when you're alone and scared time moves even slower? I swear twenty minutes is really an hour, but when I hear the tow truck coming I look at my clock and it has actually been eighteen. “Did you call for a tow?” A man asks, grabbing his chains.
“Yes.” I answer, my body shaking from the cold rain.
“Alright. I need to see your motor club card and for you to sign here.” He hands me a clipboard and momentarily I wonder if I should tell him I am not yet eighteen but decide against it. “Thank you young lady. We are going to take your car to Monroe Auto Shop. You can ride in the front of my truck.” If this were a horror movie I was watching, I would be yelling at the TV telling her to sit in the back, or telling her to find a weapon to hide in her sleeve, but right now, it is dark out, rainy and I am too dang tired. So, I nod, climb in and put my hand in my lap making sure to keep my legs covered.
“Thank you.” I say before climbing inside. Thankfully he is not very talkative and says nothing for the entire ride. The heat makes my body relax and it takes everything in me not to lay my head back and close my eyes. Surprisingly the shop is not that far and before I know it, we are pulling in.