Dormant (III) (602 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 2 on 10 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by r0fl (View user info) at 2006-02-22 12:54:32 EST
Part I
http://www.ubersite.com/m/83818
Part II
http://www.ubersite.com/m/84041
George had lived in Boothbay as long as he could remember. His parents told him they moved here from New Hampshire when he was just a kid, but as far as he knew, he was born and raised in Maine.
Been operatin' the fill station ever since his old man passed ten years ago. He was 38 then.
The station itself wasn't much to look at. Four pumps. Barely needed two. Never do see much traffic around here.
He was getting worried when he didn't see Chuck's car motor down the rode for work early that morning. Charles usually isn't late or sick or nothin'. He was always a clumsy sonofabitch. Could never figure out how to button his shirt. Momma must've dressed him 'til he went to off to college. Either that or he needed to pencil in a few more minutes in the morning.
After he left that morning, George wondered how the Chuck's Chevy still managed to get him wherever it was he needed to go in such a hurry all the time. He turned to sit down in the shade outside, and picked back up his bag of David's Sunflower Seeds.
He wasn't much to look at, George wasn't. Heavyset with a full face and already losing hair off the top, his stomach beginning to hang over his worn in Levi's, and didn't even bother tucking in his khaki collared shirt emblazoned with his name in the right breast pocket. It seemed he was destined to work all day and come home to an empty house.
Except for Digger, that is.
Digger had to be the oldest Bloodhound on the planet, and sure did look it. But he was loyal and low maintenance, and barely got up before noon. Digger's arthritis was really acting up lately, and barely moved anymore. There were a few dogs around the neighborhood that used to socialize and cause a general ruckus every couple of days, and George bet they were wondering what was going on with Digger.
Most of the day was spent minding the rest stop itself, taking orders from vendors, drinking coffee, and making sure the backs of his eyelids were still black.
"Do you know how to get to Baylanding Lane?"
"Of course he does, he's got to."
"Hello?"
"MMmhhhph? mumbled George, still half asleep from his normal, routine nap. He hadn't realized how tired he was from not sleeping much the night before from all that racket outside.
"What'd you say again, son?" George asked.
"We're up for a vacation, me and the new wife. We got a little lost, and were wondering if you could tell us the direction of Baylanding Lane?" asked a younger lad, probably not a day over 20.
"Yea sure, hold on," George replied, trying to awaken and grasp his bearings, which were still rummaging around his subconscious.
"I'm surprised you even stopped, hun," chimed the lad's female companion. "You never stop for directions."
Her voice caused George to look up, careful to have the brim of his cap shield their eyes as he gazed. Her legs were long and skin tan, and she smelled of cocoa butter. Her sandals bore two flowers near the toes, which matched her blouse, and even better matched her short skirt.
George shoved a handful of seeds in his mouth, and continued to direct Judy and Gene Hughes to Baylanding, which was actually off is Barter Road, where he lived. He watched as the couple reentered their Thunderbird. A warm breeze blew from their direction into George, her aroma traveling across the lot into his nostrils one final time.
At least he was awake.
The clouds sped by, paralleling the day. It was picturesque, with the thin trails of cirrus clouds snaking through the low atmospheric winds. He watched the shadow of Mount Pisgah creep across the countryside
The sun, which was once at a sharp angle in the early morning sky, rose, and began to fall.
George closed shop for the night, jiggling the master lock before departing. He traced his steps as always to his Jeep and prepared for the ride home. He saw the couple's footprints still in the red dirt. He pondered where they were coming from, where they were going.
The Sun's menacing angle caused George to balk as he drove, using one hand to shield his eyes as he drove west toward his trailer.
The trailer was a reflection of George: not much for the eyes, but nice if you got used to it. He walked in the door and nodded to Digger, who seemed to nod back. He clicked on the radio, just in time for the Sox to bat in the first.
He reached into the fridge and grabbed a Budweiser. Liquid dinner again. After a few innings and a few Buds, he let Digger limp out to do his business. He reclined and checked his eyelids again. Still black.
He awoke to hear the final score, the Sox sweeping the series. Through his window above the sink, he saw headlights swerving in the road.
The Ford rolled, and landed upside-down in an embankment not more than 10 yards from the trailer.
He raced outside, out of breath when he reached the car. All he could hear was a dog in the backseat, barking. The passengers weren't wearing seatbelts, and blood was everywhere. The car, which was once a bright yellow, was now caked and amber, and smelled foul. It smelled of gasoline and death.
It took almost a full minute for George to recognize them.
The couple from earlier this morning: Judy and Gene.
George opened the door, and let the barking dog out. It looked just bathed in tomato sauce. Blood covered the snout and face, and most of its body. The dog ran off into the woods near George's trailer, probably scared shitless.
"What the fuck was that!?" yelled one of George's neighbors, a truck driver named Carl Newborn.
"Car accident! It's real bad. Call an ambulance!" George shouted, and directed his attention to the bodies.
Not long after the ambulance got there, the couple was pronounced dead at the scene to a growing crowd of people. George traveled over to Carl's trailer to wind down, talk some baseball, and reminisce of the last time something like that had every happened. They and others talked for hours. It was the first time they'd all sat down and spoken in years. It takes an extraordinary circumstance to get neighbors together sometimes.
"Oh shit Carl, I forgot to let Digger in the trailer," Carl remembered. "I'll be right back."
George began to walk back towards the trailer, with Digger nowhere in sight. He usually didn't stray far from the woods or trailer itself. He went back into his trailer and grabbed a Bud and walked back outside and saw him.
Digger began walking toward George without a limp. George motioned toward Digger, with a treat cookie bone. The bloodhound's eyes never left George's body, and began to run with no sides of arthritis. The large dog leapt and knocked George over.
His screams fell on deaf ears and mute Oak and Maple trees. Digger's large canine teeth dug into George's flesh, straining the lawn.
And in a distance, behind the brush, a Huskie watched.
And its snout was covered in blood, as well as its paws and body, and smelled of gasoline.
The collar and chain link chain dragged in the grass. A tag jingled with each step, reading "Shivers."
User Reviews
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2006-03-14 02:23:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-02-28 20:23:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This was great. At least 8 people out of 204 have a fucking clue...
Submitted by HawthorneHeights (user info) at 2006-02-27 16:16:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Gonna read part IV a little later, good job.
Submitted by r0fl (user info) at 2006-02-24 22:44:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Not as many reviews, but at least I didn't lose many readers from Part II to III
<continues to write>
Submitted by Deconstruction (user info) at 2006-02-24 16:19:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2006-02-23 08:09:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent. Sorry it took me a while, I had a sick day or two..
Submitted by r0fl (user info) at 2006-02-23 00:22:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-02-22 15:06:16 (#)
Ranking: 2
why doesn't this have more reviews?
Probably because the title has nothing to do with Uberversary's, Ubercons, Shlongy, Islam, Christianity, Bart, Method, Abortion, or isn't an MS Paint masterpiece.
I'm not bitter, though. Just answering your question.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2006-02-22 16:03:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-02-22 15:06:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
why doesn't this have more reviews?
Submitted by proofofpurchase (user info) at 2006-02-22 14:04:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Because this went too long without a review....