*****
The late Autumn air seems to bite my extremities this afternoon as I make my way to my shed. Gone are the days of endless sunshine and humidity. Winter would be here along with the bone-chilling winds and abundance of snow in about a month. Virginian winters, as winsome as they may be, aren't always so forgiving. I'd have to figure out a way to make a fire pit inside my shed if I'm going to make it through the blustery season.
An ear-piercing sound of a horn tempts me into covering my ears as it blares behind me. Curious, I turn and see a dark ebony colored Ford F-150 come barreling down the dirt road, stirring up clouds of beaten-down earth into the air. It comes to a screeching halt beside me and I promptly jump out of the way. "Ettie Spaghetti, it is imperative that you come with me!" He shouts over his punk music.
"What the heck, Cliff?!" I shout back with my heart beating rapidly in my chest. He had startled me.
"Get in!" He hollers.
"No way, I barely know you!" I peer cynically through his opened window. I've been warned many times about naively hopping into people's vehicles. It was one thing to talk to him in detention or at the laundromat, but it was another to get inside his truck.
"Get in!" He repeats.
"Cliff, I haven't seen you in a month and you want me to hop inside your truck. I don't get it. Why?" My voice has a wary tone to it.
"I'm not answering any questions. I strongly recommend that you just get in." I didn't like the sound of that.
"You're not making any sense." I say dubiously and fold my arms in protest. Cliff responds by cranking up his music. "What are you doing?" I ask referring to why he decided to take a detour and stop here in the first place.
"Drowning out your annoying voice!" He calls back without answering my question.
Suddenly feeling offended, I shout, "If I am so annoying, leave!" When he doesn't budge, I start walking away.
"What? Can't hear you!" He laughs impishly and I'm suddenly reminded of the household I had previously lived in. I roll my eyes and stick out my tongue childishly. He just rolls up his window in retaliation.
The sound of another engine sets paranoia through my veins. I freeze in my tracks and out of the corner of my eye I see a 2018 Chevy Traverse pull onto the street. The very same kind of car that my mother drives. My irritation diminishes and fear sets in. I whip my head to the left and right. To my misfortune, there are no trees or bushes in sight to conceal myself with. I make a mad dash for Cliff's truck, praying he lets me in. Wasting no time, I start pounding on the window. "Open up, open up!" I demand. I claw desperately at the locked door handles. "Cliff, this isn't funny! Please let me in!" The dreaded car edges closer and for a split second I lock eyes with the driver. I start gasping for air and quivering uncontrollably. Naturally, I could only think of the worst. Tears brim my eyes and threaten dangerously to spill over. "Cliff!" I screech straining my vocal cords in a final attempt. Cliff unlocks the door at last with a smug expression. I frantically slip into the passenger seat and slam the door.
"Geez, Ette..."
"Shut up and drive!" I cut him off with a scream. Without question or even a look of bafflement, Cliff lifts his foot off the brake and takes off. "Gas it before they see the plate!" I yell as I slink down below the seat. I'm certain she's already seen me, but I couldn't bear the chance of looking into her eyes again, not after all that's happened.
