ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

Lynette settled into the vinyl booth, content to let morning sunshine warm her face through the window. She ate three stacks of pancakes with maple syrup, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, buttered toast, and a side order of home fries, all without saying a word to Roberto who was doing the same.

Lynette ate everything on her plate, then put a hand on her aching stomach and looked up at her boyfriend.

Roberto grinned. “I can’t believe you ate all that.”

“The server is staring at us.” Lynette stifled a giggle. “I just ate my calories for a week.”

“Is that all? How about another round?”

She beamed. “Sure.” Pancakes were like drugs and she couldn’t get enough.

Outside the restaurant, Lynette headed for the driver’s side of her car, but Roberto insisted on taking the wheel.

“But your ribs. Aren’t they too sore?”

“I want to take you on a drive through the country.”

“Around here every drive is through the country. What are you up to?”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Nothing. I’m taking my Querida to look at the fall colors. The leaves don’t turn gold and red like this back in Lima.”

“Oh, all right, you drive, but don’t fall asleep behind the wheel. I see you yawning after all those pancakes.”

“No te preocupes. I know what I’m doing.”

Roberto drove them north of town, pointing out cows and horses as if he’d never seen them before. The repetitive scenery on top of a huge breakfast, made Lynette’s eyelids heavy. She would just close them for a moment. Roberto would be okay, unless he fell asleep and went into a ditch. Maybe she should stay awake to watch over him. Maybe . . .

The next time she opened her eyes they had circled back south. They were on Kenny Road, crossing the bridge into Loon Lake Village. At the Herbal Healing Shop, Roberto slowed, and she expected him to turn into the parking lot. Instead, he drove across the field between Kenny Road and the cemetery. The grass was short, but the jarring movement and the food straining her stomach made her bilious. How could he drive over rough ground with cracked ribs? They were halfway to the cemetery fence when she could take no more.

“Stop! You’re wrecking my car!”

“I know what I’m doing.”

Lynette looked at Roberto, who stared straight ahead with unfocussed eyes. It was like he was possessed! The doors were locked. Stealthily, she undid her seatbelt and slipped her hand over to release the door.

Roberto was fast. He grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm to push her into her seat.

“Ow! Let go of me! Stop the car!”

“Go back to sleep.” He let go her wrist and started patting her shoulder. “Everything will be okay.”

“Not if you ruin my suspension.”

Without slowing, he looked at her with glazed eyes. “Oh, Querida, your car no longer matters.”