![\"RWISA](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Watch-Write-Showcase-Tour-300x214.jpg?resize=300%2C214&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Road by John W. Howell \u00a9 2019<\/p>\n
Just a couple more hours and I\u2019ll be able to rest my eyes. Been on this damn highway for what seems like forever. <\/em>His head slowly nods until the rumble strip noise causes him to jerk awake. \u201cI have been asleep,\u201d he yells. He yanks the wheel, and the tires screech in protest as he swerves back on to the highway. He can feel his heart in his chest and pressure in his eyes. In an instant, he regrets being so weak as to give in to the physical need. He also becomes alarmed since now he knows that sleep could overtake him without notice.\u00a0 One second, his eyes could be open and the next closed. Thank God for the jarring and noise of the rumble strips since without its alarm, he is sure he would have ended up piled into a tree.<\/p>\n As his heart settles down, he concentrates on the road ahead. There\u2019s someone at the side about a half mile away. A hitchhiker by the looks of a backpack. A sign in the person\u2019s hand is not readable at this distance. The thought occurs that It would be a good thing to have someone else in the car to help him stay awake.\u00a0 Of course, there are dangers in picking up a stranger. As he gets closer, he can see that the hitchhiker is not a guy like he thought. It\u2019s a young woman about his age.\u00a0 She is wearing some kind of overalls, but the distinctive female form still comes through. He decides to slow down and assess the situation. A girl makes all the difference in trying to reach a decision for or against a pickup. After all, who knows where this could lead? He does know that in all probability, she is not likely to stick a knife in his ribs and demand his wallet after a couple of miles down the road.<\/p>\n He eases the car to the shoulder and can\u2019t help kick up some dust in the process. The sign is facing him even as the person turns away to avoid the dust storm he has created. Kansas City in black marker on cardboard is all it says.<\/p>\n He opens the passenger door and waves her over. \u201cI\u2019m going to Kansas City. Want a ride?\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman looks back at him, and he can tell she is doing an evaluation on the safety prospects of accepting a lift. She slowly hoists her backpack on to her shoulder and walks with hesitant steps toward the car. She puts her hand above her eyes to cut the glare of the sun and stops short of the door. She leans in. \u201cDid you say you\u2019re going to Kansas City?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Yes, I did. I also asked if you would like a ride.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat all depends on your intentions?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy intentions?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. You are offering a ride. How much will it cost me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCost you? I\u2019m going to Kansas City. Your sign says Kansas City. Why would it cost you anything?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust want to make sure is all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo charge. I\u2019ve been on the road forever, it seems, and I would welcome the company. My name is James.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, James. I know I sounded a little ungrateful, but I have also been on the road and have met several guys that think I owe them something for a ride.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can understand that. Let\u2019s just say you can ride or not it\u2019s your choice. No other decisions to be made.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFair enough. I accept your offer. My name is Sarah.\u201d She slides in and slams the door.<\/p>\n \u201cNice to meet you, Sarah. You want to put your backpack in the rear?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019ll just keep it here in the front with me. You can never tell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I\u2019ll have to bail. Everything I own is in this pack, and I sure wouldn\u2019t want to leave it behind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI get it. No use trusting someone just cause they say you can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight. I think I like you, James.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWainwright. My last name\u2019s Wainwright. How about you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot sure I have a last name. I go by Sarah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo last name? How can that be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou going to start this car or is my fear well founded.\u201d<\/p>\n James flushes as he turns the ignition. \u201cYeah, here we go.\u201d He looks in the side mirror and signals as he pulls back on the highway.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are a cautious one. There\u2019s no one for miles.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess it\u2019s a habit from city driving.\u201d He keeps checking in the mirror until he is up to highway speed<\/p>\n \u201cWhere you from, James?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNew York. You?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I was originally from down south somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s been a long time.\u201d She pauses.<\/p>\n James glances at her and sees that she is lost in thought somewhere. Her skin is fair, and she has the high cheekbones and lips of a runway model. She looks vaguely familiar, and he compares her looks to Joni Mitchell. There is that innocent, fragile look that makes you want to take care of her.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry. What did you say?\u201d She is back.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t say anything. I\u2019m amazed you don\u2019t know where you are from.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell do you remember where you\u2019re from or is it someone told you?\u201d<\/p>\n She has a point. James only knew he was born in Chicago because his parents told him so. He lived in New York for twenty years so unless clued in he would have thought he lived there his whole life. \u201cI guess I should rephrase the question. Where did you last live?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, James. That makes a little more sense. I last lived in Dubuque, Iowa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a coincidence. I am driving from Dubuque. Do you believe that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can believe that. Someone once said there are only six degrees of separation of everyone on Earth. You and I traveling from Dubuque at the same time certainly falls into that realm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw come on, Sarah. We are both going from Dubuque to Kansas City. That has to be more than a coincidence.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI never said I was going to Kansas City, James.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait. You have that sign that says Kansas City.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m going there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does it mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think I know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m getting a weird feeling here, Sarah. Like you aren\u2019t telling me something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you remember swerving after you ran off the highway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Back there. Yeah, I remember almost falling asleep. Hey, wait a minute. How would you know about that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThink a minute, James. How do you think I would know about that moment?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSarah I\u2019m too tired for guessing games. What is this all about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you feel okay, James?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, just tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook around. Do you see any other cars?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but I haven\u2019t for a while. What are you trying to tell me, Sarah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou fell asleep James.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen did I fall asleep? I know I nodded off, but when did I fall asleep?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust before your car went off the road and you hit a cement culvert.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow, you are joking. Right? Right, Sarah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo joke, James. Look ahead. What do you see?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh up the road, you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, up the road.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing but what looks like a sandstorm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s no storm, James. It is nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you remember that little girl who went missing in the second grade?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, what does that have to do with you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes the nickname Jimmy Jeans mean anything?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what Sarah called me in the second grade.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did I know that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t unless.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnless I\u2019m Sarah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh My God. Sarah. It is you. Where have you been?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not important. What is important is you were broken hearted when I vanished. You prayed for my return and made promises to God if only I would come back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI never got over that either. I think of that little gir\u00be. I mean, I thought of you almost every day. Why didn\u2019t I recognize you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCause I\u2019m all grown up. There would be no way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere have you been Sarah. I have missed you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t cry, James. I\u2019m here with you now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan you tell me what happened to you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, James, it\u2019s not worth the time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo why now? Why are you here now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo help you, James.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo help me. How?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo understand what your life is like now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow? What do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were in an accident, James. You ran off the road, and I am sorry to say your body didn\u2019t survive. You are now going with me on an eternal trip.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are saying I\u2019m dead. I can\u2019t believe that.\u00a0 Look at me. I\u2019m just as alive as you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. You are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm, Sarah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, James.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are dead too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, James. A man took me from school and killed me. They never found my body.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cW-what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think about that now. Think about the future. Because you prayed so hard and missed me so much, I was given the honor of escorting you to the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOther side? There\u2019s a Future?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA wonderful one.\u00a0 You and I for all time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTake my hand then. Let\u2019s be off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have more questions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll in good time, James. All in good time.\u201d<\/p>\n We ask that you also check out their books in the RWISA<\/strong> or RRBC<\/strong> catalogs.\u00a0 Thanks, again for your support and we hope that you will follow each member along this amazing tour of talent!\u00a0 Don’t forget to click the link below to learn more about this author:<\/p>\n John W. Howell’s\u00a0RWISA Author Page<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Road by John W. Howell \u00a9 2019 Just a couple more hours and I\u2019ll be able to rest my eyes. Been on this damn highway for what seems like forever. His head slowly nods until the rumble strip noise causes him to jerk awake. \u201cI have been asleep,\u201d he yells. He yanks the wheel, … Continue reading “Welcome to the WATCH “RWISA” WRITE Showcase Tour! #RRBC #RWISA”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,3,1],"tags":[658,537,657],"class_list":["post-1145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-topics","category-general","category-uncategorized","tag-john-w-howell","tag-rrbc","tag-rwisa"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9wA33-it","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1145"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1163,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1145\/revisions\/1163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/John-Howell-240x300.jpg?resize=162%2C203&ssl=1\")
Thank you for supporting this member along the WATCH “RWISA” WRITE Showcase Tour <\/strong>today!\u00a0 We ask that if you have enjoyed this member’s writing, please visit their Author Page on the RWISA<\/strong> site, where you can find more of their writing, along with their contact and social media links, if they’ve turned you into a fan.<\/p>\n