3: Wreck
fooosh
‘I swear the road wasn’t this curvy on the way in.’
thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk
‘I shouldn’t be doing this. I can barely see the road. Woah! This curve is way too tight!’
kooosh
Total loss of traction.
Total loss of control.
And they’re in the ditch.
Wilson panics. “Is everyone ok? Monica are you ok? Lucy?!? Max ?!?”
“Yes, I think we're ok.”
“Yeah, Dad, we’re ok, other than the chocolate milk and pop bath we just got. Gross.”
“This weather is horrible. There was nothing like this in the forecast when we left your parents’ house. I feel awful dragging us out here for a potty break. I’ll find us a tow truck service.”
“Now, just wait a minute — let me get out and see what the situation is. Maybe we can get back on the road.”
“Just give me a chance to look.”
Out of the van, Wilson can see that they are indeed stuck. The left front tire is badly bent up and under the van.
He decides to look around. The ice and sleet ease up some so he can see down the road better.
They must have skidded more than a hundred feet into the ditch.
How is it possible that so much ice accumulated so quickly?
‘It is cold. Really cold. And Monica, as usual, knows best. We’ll have to call a tow truck to get us out of this mess.’
Wilson turns to head back to the van.
Easy now.
Trying to stabilize.
And failing.
ka crunch crack
“Ooooo, my back.” Wilson exhales the pain and frustration.