Cold Winter Rain
I usually love winter, but today it's cold and raining. That means freezing rain, slick roads, and idiot drivers. Why is everyone driving like it’s a bright summer day? You can’t drive like that during a winter rain.
I try to dismiss the other drivers from my thoughts and concentrate on the road. As I pull out onto the highway, my car slips. I’ve got snow tires and I’m not going very fast, but still I slide. It’s no better than a skating rink out here, and I’m usually not stupid enough to drive on a skating rink. Today, however, I have no choice. I have to pick up my daughter and her newborn baby from the hospital.
As I’m thinking about my new grandson, I hit a patch of ice. Caught unaware, I jerk the wheel to the right and skid toward the shoulder. Then I made a rookie mistake. I slam on the brakes. The car starts to spin and I utter a curse as I fight the car for control. I’m losing and I know it, so I say a quick prayer and release the wheel.
The car spins wildly before coming to a sudden stop. My head rocks forward. Something hits me square in the face and drives my head back into the headrest. I see stars and gasp for breath, wondering where I am. Oh. On the road, driving like an idiot.
A disembodied voice floats through the air and I realize it’s been speaking for several minutes.
“What?” I mutter, pushing the airbag out of my way.
“Ma’am, we’ve detected an airbag deployment. Do you need assistance?”
I shake my head, realize he can’t see me, and snap, “No, I need a new brain.”
“Do you require assistance?”
Now that’s the real question. My head hurts a little, but that’s from the airbag. Finally I reply, “No. I’ll just call my husband to pick me up.”
"Are you sure, Ma'am? I can have an ambulance sent to your location."
"No, I'm fine. All in one piece."
“Okay, Ma’am. Take care.”
I dig my phone out of my purse and dial. My daughter and her son will just have to wait while I get my husband out of work. Hopefully, he won’t laugh at me. Of course, I laughed at him last year...
