Writing Exercise 2, Kevin Eib

Char unplugged the Hoover and coiled its cord around the body of the machine in short, quick strokes. She ran to the front door calling out, “I’m coming! Godammit, lay off already.” Nolan continued to wail on the horn of the VW van as he backed down the driveway. “Wait! I’m coming!” He backed further away from her each time she came within reach of the van’s door, calling back from the open window. “Late again. I’m tired of waiting on your ass. Hurry up!” A grin spread over his face, clearly amused by the sight of her flailing arms waving up and down like a fledgling's first attempt at flight. She teetered down the steep of the drive in her heels, cussing all the way. Just as she made it to the door and reached for its handle, Nolan gunned the engine, barrel-assing his way into traffic and down the road. “Asshole!” She flipped him the bird knowing he was out of sight but wanting to have some final say. She didn't need him to go out--Aunt Kitty would be working. Char rummaged into her purse, past the Aqua Net and Snickers, and pulled out the keys to the Rally Nova. Nolan had spent most the day washing and waxing the Nova but she didn’t care. He should have thought of that before he ditched her at the bottom of the driveway. She pulled out into the street wondering how fast this baby could get her to Kitty's. Kitty lit up when she saw Char push through the front door and perch on a stool in front of her. "Been too long, girl. What you having?" There was no hesitation in Char’s voice. “I’ll have a black bitch, heavy on the bitch.” The bar was empty, aside from the women. Kitty finished puckering her lips with another layer of Ravished Red that would end up in a heap of butts in the ashtray before grabbing a glass. “I thought you were going to the VFW with Nolan.” “Fuck him.” “Attagirl.” Kitty poured shots and toasted. "To the wild women of the family. May they continue to rule their dark haired men." Char told herself she wasn’t going to let the night be weighed down with any men just now, but the liquor was all it took to start her in on Nolan and his unappreciative shenanigans not to mention the day to day doldrums of housework and cooking which seemed to go unnoticed by him. But then it was Nolan's brother who gave them a place to stay when they pulled into town unannounced. Kitty poured another round of shots. "You know my place is yours. I don't know about dickhead, but you call if you need anything. Hear me?" Kitty always found a way of making things right for Char. Fueled by the steady flow of alcohol, Char ranted while Kitty listened, interjecting advice along the way. Char looked up at the clock on the wall. “That the real time?” “Why, you got a hot date?” “Yeah, my husband. I gotta beat Nolan to home and bed or there’ll be hell to pay.” She was off her stool and headed for the door. “You’re gonna pay hell anyway. One more, come on.” But Char was determined to make it home before Nolan. Char kept a steady bare foot pressed down on the gas pedal, nervous she might not make it in time. Her paranoia checked the mirror each time she saw a new set of lights behind her. She was careful not to speed too much but she didn’t want to see him in her hindsight either. Her eyes flicked to another set of headlights in the mirror and everything went black. “Maam, can you get out of the car?” The officer gently tapped against her window, a flashlight in his hand. She climbed out and looked at the smashed front end of the Nova and out across the highway. A steel telephone pole lay in the far lane. “Did I do that?” she asked, looking to the officer who stared back, equally bewildered by her response. “Yes, Maam, I’m sorry to say you did that.” The tears began streaming out of her. “Oh my god, Nolan’s gonna kill me. You can’t tell my husband. Oh shit. He’ll kill me. Oh god, please, oh shit.” Char threw herself at the officer, her arms clinging to his uniform for support. Her words became a garble of oh gods and oh shits before she finally unclenched the grip she had on him. The officer calmed her enough to get her into his police car and back to the station where he filled out a report. He felt genuinely sorry for her and knew she'd be in some trouble with her husband, though he certainly wouldn't kill her. The officer did what he could for her. He reduced the ticket to a careless driving offence provided she pay for the light pole. Char told him she didn’t care as long as she didn’t have to go home tonight. “It’s the first house on the left where that blonde is smoking.” Char had called Aunt Kitty, who was waiting for her on the front porch. The officer walked her up to the door, making sure she was in good company. Kitty shook her head at Char. She didn't expect the call would come so soon, but they were family after all. “You know Nolan’s going to look for you here first.” Char nodded. “Yeah, but I don’t care if he looks for me in the morning. I just don’t want to see him tonight. I can’t bear to see him tonight.” “Well, I’ll leave it to you ladies.” The officer turned to leave, glad to be done with the incident. He was halfway between the door to the house and his car when the VW van pulled alongside the curb. Nolan stumbled out and lurched full speed toward the officer who countered easily with a side step, pulling out his handcuffs. A resounding screech flew off Char’s lips and she was on top of the officer clawing and biting. The officer floundered for his footing and before he could secure his handcuffs Barry grabbed for the first thing he could find and whacked him with the flashlight across his forehead. The officer went limp and lay in a huddle on the scorched dead grass of Kitty's lawn. “Oh sweet Jesus,” muttered Char. “You gotta be shittin me.” Nolan and Char dragged his body to the front door. Kitty had closed the door and was yelling from the other side, “You can’t leave him here, you sonsabitches, he's not my problem.” But Nolan and Char had already abandoned the body and were driving away from Aunt Kitty's. By the time Kitty heard the van's engine and opened the door it was too late. She couldn’t believe her own niece would do this to her. Char had the map out and was asking Nolan if he had any relatives in Kansas. Nolan leaned heavily over the wheel. “Nope. We’ll have to drive through to Colorado.” Char sighed and dropped the map, leaned back in the seat and sat up again. “I can’t sleep like this, my hair’s gonna get messed.” Then she closed her eyes and leaned back again. “This has gotta stop, honey. We won't have no family left.” Nolan pressed his foot deeper into the accelerator.