Chance Encounters

PROLOUGE I packed all my belongings into a duffel bag. Looking around at the beautiful woods that lay in front of me for the last time. My father put his hand on my shoulder as I hopped into my truck. “You know I’d want you to stay here,but I have to go serve, the USMC drafted me and unfortunately your mother is the one to take care of you.” I nodded. Knowing full well it’ll be mid Automm by the time I am able to see my dog Splash and the rest of the family. It was a sigh that escaped me followed by my lackadaisical response. “I know dad. It’s just ya know,it kind of sucks.” He nodded avoiding my eyes. “Just promise me one thing.” I looked up, “What’s that?” I asked my eyes looking down at the steering wheel. “Whatever you do, follow your dreams,work hard and don’t let anyone stop you. Even though I’m leaving doesn’t mean I won’t be right by your side.” My eyes started to water. “Thanks dad. I’ll call auntie when I get to my mothers house. Please come back safe, Splash and I need you here.” Splash jumped on me and licked my face wagging his tail. “No,Splash,you stay here. I can’t take you with me yet.” My dad smiled and hugged me before shutting my truck door. My truck roared to life and I pulled out of the driveway. My rear view mirror was filled with my dad and Splash. Leaving wasn’t something I wanted to do,but unfortunately it wasn’t up to me. “Stupid war.” I mumbled to myself. TWO WEEKS LATER The breeze blew my hair in front of my eyes, in front of me was a transmission, all torn apart. I reached into my flannel pocket pulling out a joint and lighter. It was a cool fall day and I needed all the time I could get. My truck barely made it down state,if it was going to be my daily driver then it needed some major work. The transmission was the first on the list. The suspension could wait. Being one of the few females that wrenched, was difficult, making friends almost impossible, so I chose to be alone. It also didn't help that I was from the U.P. and everyone else grew up in this town. Not that it was my choice to come move down here,but I will try and make the best of the situation. After, the last conversation with my father, it made me want to grin and bare it until at least graduation,which was only a year from now. Finishing my joint I snagged the new transmission from my truck bed. It wasn't until I was underneath it that my life changed. A car pulled up in my driveway, it was a 64’ Olds 442. The thing sounded sweet. “Hey! What you wrenching on?” A voice called over the dual exhaust. Pushing myself up from under my truck I walked over. “Just replacing the trans on this 57’ Style side.” He looked me up and down. I was wearing a flannel, with a pair of mud and grease stained jeans,and a pair of old combat boots. “Yeah, I know it's not that impressive.” He chuckled. “Must be new to this town ya got a bit of an accent.” I nodded, “I actually just moved here two days ago.” He smiled, “I live down the road,one of these days I'll show you around this town.” The cam sputtered as he floored it. Getting back to my project I noticed daylight was running out. Dinner and the news, every night. More vietnam stories and still no sign of my dad who was off in Vietnam. “Look I dont get why you won't let me enlist and just drop out mom, it's not like I'm college material.” The look my mother gave me could kill. “We already had this conversation Skye,so just leave it at that. I agreed to let you use the driveway as a junkyard.” She sighed, “Why cant you be like a normal girl your age and go out with friends?” I started to get angry,”I'm finishing my truck and going somewhere, thanks for dinner.” I slammed the door behind me. My mother really thinks that I’d rather be hanging out with people rather than out in the woods, it shows that she doesn’t know me at all. Yet for some strange reason it made me want to work harder than before to achieve something with my life. I went back under my truck utilizing the rest of the daylight to wrench. My flashlight died right as I finished installing the new transmission. I pushed the clutch pedal down and fired up the truck. Going through all the gears it shifted like butter. Grinning like a villain I pulled out of the driveway. I found a backroad and continued to drive down it until my head cleared. With a sigh I opened up my glove box and pulled out some joints, the 8-track of Creedence Clearwater Revival ended with the song ‘Have you ever seen the rain’ and with that it filled my head with new thoughts, perhaps of my dad being my friend and now he's on the other side of the world or the fact that I am down here and not in the UP. It was around 01:30 when I rolled back into my driveway. I threw my junk trans into the bed of my truck and climbed into my window. Laying down was also quite dreadful as tomorrow was my first day of highschool down here. I didn't want to go,but at least they accepted me into shop class. Then there was the ever so present thought of him, I didn't know his name,but he was kinda cute and decently nice. Probably has a girl already though. My mom already left for work so the house was empty, not even my dog was here. I threw on a pair of slightly less stained jeans and a decent flannel. My shoes were still the same boots as I preferred them over anything else. My truck roared to life as I rolled down the road, if only I could clear my head. The parking lot as I pictured was a zoo. It appeared that I also had the only truck in the lot which was funny to me. Picking the spot furthest from everything. I didn't need to be right up front. With a sigh I rolled out of the driver's seat. For what seemed like an eternity I entered the building. “I'd much rather be in the jungle than here.” I mumbled underneath my breath.