Monday, March 25, 2013

As Luck would Have It.


Sara Arnett drives down Pinewood Boulevard that connects the highway to Rolling Hills Parkway. As the engine cuts off, she shifts into neutral and cranks the car.

Heading toward home, it is a quiet Sunday. Two dogs lazily cross the road. Slowing for the dogs, the engine dies. The dogs are in the left lane and a hot rod of a sports car slows beside her.

Thumping the steering wheel with his thumb, the young male driver blows a surprisingly large sounding horn.

The dogs stop to look to see if they know him.

The female passenger rolls the window down and bellows, “Get, Get out of the way”

One of the dogs starts walking back across the road.

Inspecting the rear view mirror, no one is there. Shifting into neutral, Sara waits until it is really clear before cranking.

The passenger leans her head against her hand with silent dismay.

The dog doesn’t recognize her and frisks to the parkway median to investigate the paper bag his cohort has found.

Casey Arnett in a serious voice says, "Wanna drag?"

Expectant looks changed to puzzlement.  Sara's older son Jake had a serious look. Six year old Casey was just plain serious. The two hot “rodders” laughed.

Sara accidentally revs the engine loudly as she cranks. The sports car steps on the gas and shoots off.

As luck would have it, a law enforcement vehicle sat in the parking lot of Sandy Valley church.  The brake lights flashed on the hot rod as they descend the hill.

At the red light at the end of Rolling Hills Parkway, Sara, Casey and Jake kept a straight face as they waved to the young couple as they turned left on Rose Hill Road to get back to the highway.  

The church pianist finished practicing the old hymn “Make Haste” that Isabelle Jenkins had requested.  The pianist hated working on Sunday but he knew to get back in his patrol car. There were always speeders on Sunday.




18 comments:

  1. There's a world of trouble going on there for a Sunday. Good job with the prompt.

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  2. Nice description of the dogs in the road. I've met those dogs. Cute about the cop.

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    1. Thanks, I own those dogs. just kidding, I keep mine fenced but I live in the country and you have to slow down for chickens, guineas and dogs among other things.

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  3. Good take on the prompt. Gave me a giggle once I caught on.
    I had to read the last paragraph twice, the scene change caught me off guard.

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  4. A lot was happening there! Very visual - enjoyed thanks. Any chance of the captcha being disabled? Makes commenting quite a process...

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and especially telling me about captcha. I thought I had disabled it.

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  5. Ann, I've lived in the country and the city - you're right about the chickens, as well as the deer displaced by outcast suburbs. Loved the ending of the pianist being a cop. As a pastor's wife (and radical activist poet and jazz singer, go figure), I am acutely aware that church organists and pianists are NEVER one-job people... unless they have a spouse or partner who has an excellent job!

    Very real, with the kind of whimsy I dig. Glad I posted on Trifecta, too, so I found you! Amy Barlow Liberatore

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  6. PS Obviously, your "captcha" problem has been fixed. I hate those little buggers!

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  7. and that is so what dogs would do..."Do I know you" I see a dog on any street and pick them up put them in my car (yes I keep dog biscuits for such emergencies) take them home, feed them and call the owner. Hate the thought of anything happening to them. I did enjoy this and the little twist with the pianist / policeman.

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  8. I like this slice-of-life vignette and would love to see it expanded if you haven't done so already. I, too, grew up in a small town where everyone knew everyone and the dogs (cows, in our case) would meander across the road at their leisure. Beautiful piece.

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  9. I liked the dogs, too! Great job bringing the story to life for us.

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  10. Love the description of the dogs looking to see if they know someone. Love the small town feel to it - very well described. I live in such a town and could see it all unfold.

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  11. Damn Sunday drivers (: Cute piece.

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  12. I love the accidental revving of the engine, and the sports car shooting off like that! That's an incredibly funny scene, and I loved it-just as I loved everything else about this fun story!

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  13. I always wonder where the cops are when we need them, so I particularly liked the part where the sports car got nabbed by the cop/pianist. I had a car that would stall out like that at the most inopportune times...brought back memories!

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  14. This has a kind of Northern Exposure feel to it. With dogs. Fun.

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  15. Those would be my dogs. Too dense to get out of their own way. Wonderful descriptions.

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  16. Very vivid expressions and narration.. good job :)

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