the new thriller Onion Town

A day spent in a drug-induced haze turns into a teen flick and then into a terrifying thriller. But thriller implys there was some happy excitedness, and looking at the overturned car in the middle of the road, I did not feel happy or excited. Terrified and cold. This chilling sensation that the body in the car was simply twitching with its last movements and the soul having already escaped its prison. But let me start at the beginning of the warm day…

The world was still spinning and I was dead exhausted. I couldn’t seem to think or see straight about anything. Classes were all a blur to me and then I was in the lounge. Of course the couple who isn’t were there playing cards and I just didn’t want to deal with their flirting but we’re just friends act. It is so exhausting to watch. The college was plunged into darkness as a car accident knocked out a telephone pole. Classes were cancelled and students rejoiced at the early start of spring break. For the third time this week, my friend blantantly ditched me so I went into work and tried to focus on some semblence of what I was suppose to be doing.
At 5, instead of going home, I moved furniture and argued over the stupidities of the lawyers in the office. You would think with that much schooling they would be able to count to 20 with their socks and shoes on. Finally get home and promtly went to the firehouse for the Lent Fish Fry. Looked at all the trucks there and then went back home and inspected the new bays in my own district. Back to my comfy bed and mindless TV.
The call came around 10pm. My best friend wanted to go to a party in Onion Town, as we call it. Its a good 45 minute drive from my house. So out to the middle of nowhere we went, to friends, beer pong and high people with the munchies. Beer Pong rules forever will be simply this: Throw ball at cup. Ball goes in cup. You drink Cup. End of dicussion. When you are drugged and drunk, rules about Redemtion and double bounces and guys kissing other guys just confuse the hell out of me.
So around 2am we head back towards civilization. Three cars – 1st car has me and Brian, 2nd car has Heather and Laura, last car is John alone. We come to the second traffic light in 25 minutes of driving and notice no one is behind us. A phone call tells us to turn around and go back. As we crest the hill, the headlights fall on John’s car, overturned and smashed in the middle of the road.
It looks like a scene out of a scary movie. The only lights coming from the stars and the car headlights. The car dark with little wisps of steam rising from it, surrounded by broken glass and car. No one is moving and your stomach turns to ice. Swallowing the urge to cry and scream, we run towards the revving car as John climbs out of the car window, basically unharmed. A few minor lacerations (big words from Brian) on his hand, while he looks for his hat.
Onion Town is so out there, it takes almost 15 minutes for the cops to find us, but it felt like an eternity. Cars come up the road and have to be told to turn back. This simple act of focusing and calming others calms me down. The sheriff finally arrives, then a tow truck, then another sheriff, then an ambulance, then another cop, a firetruck, a firechief, and a dozen volunteer firefighters in personal vehicles block us from moving our vehicles anywhere. John’s mother arrives and after being released by the EMTs and the cop, he goes home.
We are stuck in a gridlock of cars and people, with three girls who have to pee like crazy and a guy who is making us laugh. He tells us to walk over to the dark clearing on the side of the road and go. “This is scary movie enough thank you Brian. I don’t need to be raped by one of these hicktown Onion people.” I love Laura. Finally, the alcohol and full bladder and stress of it all snaps in me and I jump out of the car, the volunteer firefighters in my sight. “Excuse me. Those cars are blocking us in and I want to go home. Can you move them?”
It sounded a lot nicer in my head I swear. But the looks on their faces told me they were rather afraid of me. Little ol’ me – who could be afraid of me? Only one had a smart aleck answer. “Hey, if we have to be out here, so should you.” I just looked at him and walked away. No one else said a word. Back in the van, Brian and Laura and Heather were staring at me. “Whoa, you flipped out. That was fucking awesome!” I told them I was sorry and I couldn’t help it, but considering within 30 seconds the road was clear and we were on our way, they graciously forgave me. 🙂 My dreams that night were filled with little drunk men and cars the screeched down the road upside down.
I swear, the picture of John’s overturned car in the middle of the darkened highway will be imprinted in my brain forever. It is an image I pray I never have to see again.
Of course, there is the what if games we love to play. What if I had ridden in John’s car, since he lived closer to me than Brian? What if we had left 2 mins earlier or 2 mins later? What if we hadn’t been on the phone with Manny? What if Laura and Heather were the last car instead? What if… What if… The possibilies are endless and just keep getting worse. But playing that pyscho game makes you realize that what happened was horrible, but it could have been a million times worse and everyone walking away from that was a miracle. You thank God for small favors in times like that.
And now I am at work dead tired and starving. This afternoon there is a wedding rehearsal and tonight another party, thankfully not in Onion Town. Tomorrow is church mania, playing and then the wedding in the afternoon. And if the timing works out, a discussion with someone I’m not sure I’m quite ready to talk to. And especially after this weekend, I don’t know if my nerves could handle it. Dead people coming to life, and live people dying. Its just too much. The universe is in balance. Don’t mess with it or me for a few days. Please.