|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- IRREGULAR SHIRT--CUP 6--"REALITY PICKUP TRUCK TOM NEADOWS" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Irregular Shirt  ||  -------> (Cup SRis006, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Then all fell very silent. I was momentarily deafened and dumbfounded, but I broke out of it to see Benny taking another cigarette out, lighting it, and glancing at the flaming heap ahead of us with a smile. "Pretty neat, hey Doug?" "How..." I started, stuttering in disbelief, "...how did we--I mean, why didn't--I mean, why..." "This's a pretty sturdy truck." I said nothing but sat there in a state of disbelief while I watched Benny put the truck in gear, start forward, and jam into the blazing wreckage, pushing it onto the shoulder of the road. I felt the heat of the flames on my face. Then Benny backed up a bit, paused to admire his work, and then started down the highway again. I sat there and wished to ask Mr. Averlaize how we managed to stop on a dime and yet not be thrown forward through the window. But I wasn't thinking clearly--I was utterly benumbed by the experience. We kept driving and Benny said nothing, but had a bemused look on his face. He took the exit for Donavan Bends and headed for the vicinity of my house. I had no idea of what to say, since I was so shellshocked, but finally I said "This... y'know, this is some truck." "Yeah." he said. "Bought it from a faggot a couple a years ago. He killed himself and donated all his money to a cat hospital. Now I can go anywhere I want." "Yeah, uh, well...", I started, not really knowing what to say, and also starting to fear for my personal safety. Luckily, however, we came to my street then. "Oh, here's my house.", I said, even though it was a block and a half away (not wanting him to know where I lived). "Yo.", he said, and stopped. I opened the door and was about to get out, but I turned and asked him "Look man, what the hell happened back there?" "Wasted a pig, man." "But..." I started as I got out, "...uh, look man, what about inertia? We should've been thru that windshield, easy. Y'know?" "This is no ordinary pickup truck. It's named Tom Neadows, and it has more'n a few tricks up its sleeve." I had no idea what the hell he was talking about, but I decided to quit while I was alive, and said, "Well, thanks for the ride.... and I won't tell the cops or nothin'.", cringing after I realized what I had just said. "S'no problem, pal. They'll never have a clue. Not a clue." "O...okay." "Have a good one, hey, buddy." "Yeah, you too." With that, I shut the door, and saw the picture of the weird little man, and watched it as Benny Averlaize sped off down the street. "Shit." I said aloud on the freezing street. So I walked to my house and went in. My mom was in the kitchen, as well as my little sister. "Oh hi Doug." she said, "You're just in time for some of Gramma's bread soup!" "Oh, um, well..", I started, but then, glancing at the clock on the oven, realized that I had plenty of time to catch an earlier train and easily get back to campus in time for the show. "Okay, I guess so." "What's the matter? You're shaking like a leaf. Did you come in on the train?" "S'cold outside, ma. Yah." "Yes I know, isn't it? ...oh, did you see the comet, honey?" "No." I sat down at the table and took my gloves off. "Aren't you going to take your coat off?" my mom asked me. "Yeah." I said, but I kept it on. My sister looked at me and said, "Poopoohead." I did not respond. The bread soup was served. It was tasty and hot. Soon I was finished, with my coat still on, and I excused myself. Running up the stairs to my room, I took my coat off, turned on some music, and then snuck over to the attic stairs. I turned on the light, walked up, and looked over to the corner where the violin was kept, but right there was Harbaza, the girl from my astronomy class, just bluntly sitting on a chest. I did a double take, but said nothing. "Hi there Doug." she said. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----