The Legend Farm

Bad Luck

I rested my head across my hand that sat against the car door as I impatiently waited for the cars ahead of me to move. Good grief, just move already. Suddenly, I got a phone call and picked it up without glance.
"Mom!" I smiled with relief to hear another person's voice for the first time in eight hours.
"Hi, I just wanted to see how the trip is going honey." Her lighthearted voice chimed over the phone.
"It's going dreadfully boring." I scoffed to myself, shaking my head at the still cars.
"Don't worry, when you get there, you'll be more than relieved. But for now, I should let you go since you're driving." She said. The cars finally began to moving as I listened to my gps directions without thought.
"Okay, love you. Tell Samantha and Alexia I love them too." I said with a smile before hanging up the phone, placing it back into the passenger seat. Turning up the dial on my radio, blues poured out from the speakers.

Tightening my grip on the steering wheel, I attempted to fight off sleepiness that slowly decreased my ability to see clearly, but it was no use so I drove into the nearest motel. A baby blue decorated the exterior of the run down building. Taking my backpack full of clothes out of the car, shoes and other essentials for a road trip, I groaned and made my way inside.

Once I was finished checking in with the more than shy woman behind the front desk of the motel, I sat against the headboard with my legs laying in front of me on the bed of my room. Switching on the television, I watched whatever was suggested to me, which wasn't very interesting but thankfully I was too exhausted to care. Soon enough, as my eyelids begin falling and the men on the television who's voices began to slowly tune out, I knew I was falling into a peaceful sleep.

I bolted upright while my alarm went off next to me on the nightstand. Turning it off, I quickly ran back and forth getting my belongings together. While making my way out of the room, I made a mental note to myself and confirmed that I had everything I needed. Leaving the motel behind me, I sat back into my lonely car. Surprisingly, I was relieved to be back inside of it.

I listened to the directions that were given to me and had realized my surroundings for the time in hours. I was in the middle of a desert. No cars in sight, no rest stops. The only thing present was the wind that blew every so often, and when it did, it was blowing only hot, dry air. I pulled over on the side of the road and got out, looking around with hands covering my ocean eyes from the sun. Not a place in sight to relieve myself. Looking for a private area, I finally found a wooden porta potty that rotted away on it's lonesome. I rushed over to it and close the door. I turned around, glancing down at the rotten toilet, I became hesitant. Was I really about to do this? My stomach turned at the sight of it. Slowly, I squat and then hear a rattlesnake a little too close for comfort, causing me to jump up and sprint out to my car. However before I got in, I take notice of my back tire as it weakly stood. Not a flat tire quite yet, I thought. Getting back in with a full bladder still, I drove more quickly than before.

Eventually, a car was seen from behind me. I smiled about finally seeing another person until I see red and blue flashing lights. Pouting, I slowly drove onto the sleeve of the mostly empty road. I picked up my license, ready to show it to the man. The officer got out of his car, making his way over time with a wide police hat hiding his face. Finally, he stopped at my door.
"Do you know why I pulled you over today, ma'am?" He shot the cliche question as a southern accent dripped from his voice. He played with the toothpick in his mouth as it wiggled back and forth between his pink lips.
"I'm sorry, I was speeding, wasn't I?" I questioned him.
His lips upturned, "Sure was. Can I see your license and registration please?" I swiftly gave him the things he requested as he looked down at it momentarily, before handing it back to me.
"Where you going in such a rush?" He asked.
"Making my way to a new job in Utah." I smiled at the officer.
"Really?" He asked and I nodded awkwardly.
He patted my door before facing his car, "I'll let you off with a warning just this once, alright? No more speeding." He said with a stricter voice than before.
"Yes sir, have a good day and thank you." I smiled at him before he returned it before returning back to his car and driving off, the dust flying in the air and onto my car. Sighing, I start to drive more carefully.

As the sun began to set, the golden sun illuminated over me and the rest of the empty desert. Glancing over at my gps, it showed me three hours left until arrival. Coming to a stop, I decided to take this time to drink what I had left of my water, savoring every last drop. As I began to drive again, my vehicle began to stutter against the dirt road. No, this can't be happening right now. I began to steer my car over to the side while it continued to weakly drive. Then, silence. My car was completely out of gas and it'll be dark soon. My heart sunk in fear of the worst. I got out and looked in my trunk for anything to help my situation, but there was nothing. Taking out my phone and attempting to get a signal, there was nothing there either. No hope.
"Hey!" A woman's voice called out but as I looked for the person, there was nobody in sight. I ran back into my car and locked the doors as I kept my eyes on the deserted surroundings. Suddenly, two knocks on my passenger window caused me to jump and as I spun around to see what it was, there stood a man with a cowboy hat.