The Cold Front
(August 1986)
So you goin’ to tell me about those dreams?” Tom asked again. Ennis looked at him but didn’t answer.
“Fine, suit yourself” Tom said as he speeded up the truck. “Could sure use some breakfast myself, there oughta be a place coming up soon.”
It was still morning, the sun was high and bright,the light causing dappled images on the road. But almost in an instant, a huge dark cloud rolled in and the day was gone, it grew as dark as if night had fallen again.
Then there was a huge blast of thunder, and the sky was lit up by lighting, sending eerie sparks over all. The rain began to fall, gently at first, then in huge splatters on the windshield. Tom kept on going, but then he slowed down when the rain became so heavy that they could no longer see in front of them, and the water accumulated in rippling lakes on the highway.
Tom slowly pulled the truck over to the side of the road. “We better wait here till this is over, then it’ll all be clean as a whistle” Tom said, looking through the windshield, opaque from the pelting rain.
“Hope it stops soon” Ennis said, as he reached for the duffel bag near his feet. They sat there and waited and waited, but the storm did not let up. The rain fell in sheets on the flooded road, the wind was howling, and the thunder and lightened never ceased.
“Guess this is that cold front” Tom said, trying to laugh, as he rummaged through his pockets, full of odds and ends like a kitchen junk drawer.
“Whadya looking for? Ennis asked. But before Tom could reply, a deafening noise blasted their ears and shook the truck like a toy boat on the roaring sea.
“Holy fuckin’ shit!!!”