“I think you’re dead.”
ONE DAY AGO
Jim
Wells glanced over his smooth, leather steering wheel to the small, blue
letters of his digital clock. It read 6:27. He slowed his red 1967 Pontiac Firebird
to 15 miles per hour and with a swift jerk of the steering wheel, the car
pulled smoothly off Lariat Loop and into his clean, paved driveway. Jim stopped
abruptly and turned the Firebird off. He grabbed his briefcase off the
passenger’s seat and climbed out of the car.
Jim skipped happily into his nice, modular
home that he shared with his beautiful wife, Rosie. He smiled as he swung the
door open and stepped onto the worn and scratched hardwood floor. He was so
overwhelmed with joy, it being 6:30 on a Friday night. On top of that, his
birthday was coming up on Sunday and he had an uneventful weekend planned ahead
of him. Jim smiled ear to ear knowing that he had 2 full days of relaxation
before returning to his stressful job on Monday.
He was a lawyer for a small law firm in Brownsville,
Oregon. He just graduated from law school the previous spring. Jim loved his
job. But being a new attorney, and only 27, he was under a lot of pressure.
Jim slipped his tight, shiny shoes off and
snuck into the kitchen. He swung around the corner and spotted his gorgeous
wife. His black socks were begging for him to run and slide on the polished,
wood floor. He gave into the temptation and skated right into Rosie’s arms. Her
warm embrace and the haunting aroma coming from whatever she had cooking caused
Jim’s smile to grow even more. Jim thought to himself, “Wow, how could I possibly have a better life? I love her, and
everything.”
As if Rosie could read his mind,
she opened her mouth and said, “Oh, boy do I love you. And this house. And my
amazing life.” Jim pulled out of the wonderful embrace that his wife had him
trapped in. He looked down at her. She was beautiful. With her short, flowery
cooking apron wrapped around her dark, blue jeans, and her favorite, well-loved
college shirt tucked under her apron. Her wavy, dirty blonde hair danced around
her face. And her eyes, they were like looking at the sun, they burned out of
control, glowing a deep gold.
“I love you too. I wouldn’t change
my life if I had the chance. Not for anything.” There in that moment, eyes
locked on each other, Jim could see in Rosie’s eyes, she was keeping something
from him.
Rosie stared back at Jim smiling, “Not even a
baby?”
Jim leaped back and looked like he
could have done a backflip. He was smiling like a maniac, bouncing off the
walls. He collected himself the most he could and said back to Rosie, “Babe,
you’re pregnant?”
Rosie beamed with excitement. She answered
Jim, “Yes!”
Jim joined hands with his wife once again and
asked, “When did you find out? Did you go to the doctor?”
“Today. This morning, after you
left, I went to the doctor. He said that I am pregnant.”
Jim looked at her again and said, “Now,
my life couldn’t get any better.”
Jim
quickly kissed Rosie. Then, he frolicked out of the kitchen yelling, “I’m going
to go change. I love you!” Jim sprinted up the stairs, skipping every other
step like he did every time he went up to their room. There were exactly 17
steps up to his favorite place in the house. He reached the top step and ran
his hand against the left wall, feeling for a light switch. His fingers flipped
the switch up and the only 11 lights on. He slipped his socks off using his
feet as he walked over to his bed. The sheets flowed like waves in the ocean,
they were a soft blue. Not a baby blue, but not a deep blue either. He plopped
down on the bed and laid on his back for a moment. He stared up at the ceiling.
His life was turning out better
than he had ever hoped. His job was going well, he just bought a new house with
his wife, and she was pregnant. Jim sat up really fast, laughing at himself
when he stood up and lost balance. He walked over to the other side of the room
to his dresser. He set it up next to the East facing window. That way every
morning, he could get dressed and watch the sun rise. He pulled his second
drawer out and stole a solid green T-shirt. Jim took his suit off and slipped
the T-shirt over his head. As soon as his shirt was completely on he yanked on
his top drawer and snatched a pair of blue, plaid boxers. He picked his laundry
off the floor and stuffed it in the hamper as he walked to the stairs.
Brrrrriing, brrrriing. Jim raced
down the steps, carefully touching every one of them. He hollered, “I got it
honey!”
But Rosie didn’t want him to answer
the phone. She had other plans. “No!!! I got it Hon, don’t answer it!”
Jim didn’t want to accept the fact
that nothing suspicious was happening, so he walked into the living room and
plopped onto the couch. Then, all of a sudden, he felt the urge to just get up
and see who it was on the phone. “Rosie, who is it?”
Rosie was hesitant to reply, but
she did, “Evan.” Evan was probably the closest friend that Jim had ever known.
They grew up together, they did everything side by side, and went to school
from preschool up until graduation. Then, Evan went to school elsewhere and Jim
wanted to be a lawyer so they parted ways. Evan lived a few towns over. Jim
only saw him on occasion now though.
Jim didn’t know why Rosie told him
to let her get the phone if it was his best friend, but he trusted her. He was
just a little curious though. So he crept over to the other phone and held it
up to his ear, like he had done a million times when he lived with his parents
and sister. Jim was always very protective of his sister, even though she was 2
years older than him. He would listen in on her conversations when he was
little. Jim smiled at the memory of himself sitting in the family’s soft, red
chair with the phone up to his ear.
“Promise
you won’t tell him,” Evan questioned into the phone. Jim felt the hair on the
back of his neck crawl. He knew they were talking about him.
“He won’t find out from me,” said
Rosie back to Evan. In hearing those six words, Jim’s world fell apart. His
smile ever so slowly altered into a frown. He thought he could trust Rosie to
tell him anything and everything. There was a time when he would have expected
the same from Evan too.
Jim placed the phone to his ear
even harder than he held it before. He had to hear this conversation. “I will
tell Jim I am going shopping tomorrow in the morning. He won’t mind. He loves
his time alone. When I leave I will call you so we can meet to talk. Sound like
a plan?”
Jim
sensed his jaw dropping. It slowly fell and his eyes filled with water. A
single tear sprang out of his eye and slithered down his cheek like a snake. He
couldn’t believe what he just heard. Jim thought, “Was Rosie cheating on me with my best friend? I know that I’ve been
very busy with work and all lately, but everything seemed perfectly well.”
“Yeah.
That sounds good. See you tomorrow.” Even’s voice came to a stop and then the
familiar sound of the phone call ending rang in Jim’s ear. Dnnnnn.
Jim
dashed to the kitchen as soon as he hung the phone up. He stood in the doorway.
“Rosie what are you keeping from me?!! What did you promise you wouldn’t tell
me?” Jim screamed at her.
Rosie’s
eyes scanned the entire room and then they hopped back to Jim’s eyes. She
looked panicked. She opened her mouth and blurted, “I can’t tell you. I’m
sorry.”
“Wow. You would honestly keep
something from me, but allow my best friend to know? I thought that you could
trust me enough to tell me everything.” The tears were now pouring out of Jim’s
eyes.
Rosie
looked disappointed now, “Look Jim, I can explain. You are misunderstanding something
here.” Jim just glared at her from across the room. If looks could kill right
now, Rosie would have been dead.
“You
know what? Never mind! I don’t want to hear it!” Jim turned and ran upstairs.
He slipped on a pair of grey sweats that he’d had since forever. He ran back
down the stairs and stopped when he reached the bottom.
There Rosie stood, eye to eye with
him. She grabbed his arm. “Jim don’t go. Please just let me explain.”
“No. I don’t want an explanation
anymore. I don’t want to hear it.” Jim pried her hands off his arm and walked
right passed her and to the door. He
slid on his moccasins and grabbed his bright yellow Nike sweatshirt and keys.
Jim looked at Rosie. Her beautiful eyes screamed at him. They screamed at him
asking him to stay, to listen and not walk out. Jim’s sadness had turned into
anger now though. He didn’t acknowledge the helplessness in his wife’s eyes. He
turned and walked out the door.
Sitting in his car, driving
anywhere, Jim felt horrible. He had finally gained control of his emotions. He
had been driving for nearly an hour. His mind wasn’t set on a place, it just
gave him orders, drive, don’t stop.
Jim’s
eyes shot over to the blue light of his clock. It read 11:06. He had been away
too long. He knew he was mistaken. He was disappointed in himself. Jim allowed
his emotions to control him and he yelled at his wife. He screamed at his
pregnant wife. And over what? He had no idea. Jim slowly stopped and made a
U-turn. He was going home to the love of his life. He would have called to let
her know he was alright, but he was in the middle of nowhere and he left his
phone at the house.
Jim’s foot was as heavy as lead. He
just wanted to be home and hug his wife and tell her how sorry he was. He felt
the car accelerate. Jim felt guilty that he believe Rosie cheated on him. He
closed his eyes for a second regretting what he had done and that was it. Jim
passed out and drove right off the road.
Jim’s eyelids rolled up his eyes like curtains
on a window. The light was blinding. It took him a moment to remember where he
was and everything that happened. Jim looked out the window at his
surroundings. The 1980 Pontiac Firebird was parked in the ditch. “I must’ve
fallen asleep,” he said out loud to himself. He started the car and pulled back
onto the road without a problem. Jim started to head home.
He got home and the digital clock
in his car said 12:49. He had been gone way too long. Jim Wells parked his
Firebird in his driveway and hopped out and ran to the front door. He whipped
it open and ran to Rosie. She was sitting on the couch in the living room
talking on the phone. She looked up as I ran in the door. “Rosie! Baby, I am so
sorry! Are you okay?”
But, Rosie didn’t answer him, she
walked right by him and closed the door. “I don’t know where he is and I’m
really worried. No. He left late last night and was very angry. We had a fight.
Yes. I’m not sure.” Rosie wasn’t talking to him though, she was still on the
phone. “Yes, he got mad because I was on the phone with Evan planning his
surprise party for his birthday.”
“Rosie? Can you hear me? You were
planning me a party? I am so sorry! Are you ignoring me? I’m sorry.” Jim began
to panic. Was she really ignoring him? He needed to get some air. Jim ran
outside. He went out to the car and drove away again. This time he knew where
he was going, Redding. To visit an old friend, Evan Forbes.
MEANWHILE
Will Harvey, Brian Gilbert,
and Jessica Prescott sat in the best coffee shop in Redding, Oregon. They sat
at their booth in the corner. Jess, Will and Brian went to Coffee on the Corner
every Saturday the whole summer, for something to do. They have been out of
school for nearly 2 months now and the three musketeers have been bored enough
to get coffee to fill the time. The three, now sophomores, haven’t had anything
to do all summer.
They were just praying to god for something to
happen when a gorgeous, red 1967 Pontiac Firebird came flying into town. Will
Harvey, a tall, lean and muscular boy with brown curly hair, thought that the
Firebird was the sweetest ride ever. Brian Gilbert, a skinny brainiac with
blonde flowing hair, could have cared less about the car. What he noticed was
also running through Jessica Prescott’s mind.
Nobody was driving the hot rod!
“Who was driving that?” asked Jessie.
“I have no idea, but I really want
to meet him!” exclaimed Will.
Jessie and Brian both looked at one
and other and recognized the annoyance that Will caused them. “No Will I don’t
think that’s what she meant. There wasn’t a person driving the car at all!”
said Brian.
“There had to have been. A car like
that can’t go without a person driving. It would completely lose control,”
stated Will. Will had always been interested in cars. From the time he was
little, he and his dad used to build model cars together, before his dad went
away.
“Let’s go check it out!” Jessie had
always looked for adventure. She could make anything an adventure too.
They rushed outside with their
coffees in their hands. Will hopped on his neon green Diamondback mountain bike
that he brings with him everywhere. They followed the red car back to a house
that they all knew well, Mr. Forbes’ house. Mr. Forbes was their absolute
favorite teacher in the world! He taught Physical Science at their High School.
The Firebird’s driver’s door
opened. Will sees an average height man, pretty handsome fella, get out. But,
Jessie and Brian just see a car door open and slam shut again. Brian and Jess
exchange looks again. “Hello sir, my name’s Will and this is Jessica and this
here is Brian.”
“Hi son, I’m Jim Wells. I was just
looking for my old friend Evan Forbes,” said the stranger.
Will looked back at him and stated,
“Well you’re in the right place. This is Mr. Forbes’ place. Do you mind me
asking something?” Jessica and Brian now changed the direction of their stares.
They now glared at Will, their mouths gaped open.
The stranger, Jim, answered
instantly, “Okay, what’s up kid?”
“Where did you get that nice car?”
Will grinned bigger than anyone had ever seen him grin before. Then, he looked
back at his best friends as if to give them a look to get them to talk to the
man too, so it wouldn’t be so awkward.
“Believe it or not kiddo, Will, I
got it in a garage sale.” The man was smiling now and Will noticed that he had
beautifully straight teeth.
“No way! Total score! Well, it was
nice to meet you sir.” Said Will. He looked at Brian and his eyes communicated
to him that he should say “it’s a pleasure” but Brian just stood there. Jessica
was the same way. Will didn’t know what had gotten into them, but he thought
they were being awfully rude.
“Yes, young man. Very nice to meet
you. See you around sometime.” And just like that the man walked up to the
house and knocked on the door. Mr. Forbes opened the door in nearly no time at
all and looked around. It seemed like he looked right through Jim.
Mr. Forbes saw them and said, “He kids! Long
time, no see! How are you?” Jess and Brian were still in shock about something,
but Will replied that he was doing great.
Mr. Forbes went back inside with
Jim and Will turned and asked, “What’s gotten into you two? Did you forget your
manners?”
“Will, nobody was there. I didn’t
see anyone!” Said Jessie.
Then, she looked at Brian and he
said, “Man are you okay? Because I didn’t see anyone either. I just saw the car
door open and close. And then, I saw my best friend have a conversation with
the air.”
“You guys didn’t see Jim?” Will was
beginning to worry now.
“No.” Brian and Jessica said at the
same time.
INSIDE THE HOUSE
“Hey Evan. How are you?” Jim asked
his good friend. Nothing. “Please Evan talk to me. I know you can see and hear
me because that boy outside clearly just saw me.” Nothing again. “Okay, I quit
you and Rosie win.” Jim went outside and got back in the car. Guess who he
found inside his car, Will.
“Um, kid what are you doing?” Jim
inspected Will.
Will looked back at Jim and said,
“I’m sorry. I had to make sure you were actually here. Excuse me, I think my
friends were playing a joke on me. My apologies.” Will sat up and opened the
passenger’s door.
Will put his right foot outside the
Firebird when, “Wait what do you mean your friends were playing a joke on you?
Are they acting like they can’t see you?”
“No, they can’t see you.” Will
climbed back into the car. He clearly understood that something was happening.
“Want to go for a ride Will?” Asked
Jim.
They were in the car for a long
time. Plenty of time for Jim to thoroughly explain to Will what his past day
was like. They were heading to Brownsville. “So I am the only one who can see
and hear you? But you can drive a car?”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Said Jim.
Will looked out the window for a
moment, “I think you’re dead.”
“Then, how am I driving and how can
you see and talk to me?” Asked Jim skeptically.
Will questioned saying anything,
but then he understood that it may be of help, “My dad could see ghosts. They
sent him away from me when I was little. He is in a mental hospital somewhere
in Montana.”
“Oh wow. Do you think that it’s
possible you could be like him?” Jim probed.
“I have no idea, but if my mom
finds out about it, I’m as good as gone.”
They went to Jim and Rosie’s house.
Jim asked Will to tell Rosie about his accident and that he died. Will agreed
that he would. They both scrambled out of the car and up to the door. Will
knocked on the hard wooden door. Within seconds Rosie greeted him with a
welcoming smile.
“Hello ma’am. My name is Will
Harvey and I spoke with your husband Jim Wells. I was wondering if I could have
a word with you.” Will was calm and collected, but Jim, who was standing beside
him was the exact opposite.
“Yes! Of course. You have heard
from Jim? Nobody else I have contacted has seen or heard from him since
Thursday.” Rosie welcomed Will into their house.
They walked into the living room
and Will sat where Jim sat, on the couch, less than 24 hours ago. “Miss, I’m
afraid I have bad news. I believe that your husband Jim was in an accident.”
Will went on to explain how he was
the only one who could hear and see Jim. Rosie still seemed to question it by
the time Will had finished. “Ask me anything that only Jim knew. He is here
right now. I can ask him and he can tell me and I will confirm it with you.”
“Where did I go yesterday after Jim
went to work?” Rosie didn’t ask it in the direction of Will, but more into the
air around her.
Jim was sitting in the rocking
chair next to Rosie, “The doctor, she went to the doctor because she is
pregnant.”
Will felt his heart break hearing
that. Rosie could tell that Will knew something. “What honey? Do you know where
I went?”
Will nodded his head, “Jim said you
went to the doctor because you are pregnant.”
“Oh my god! He really is gone isn’t
he? And he is here?” Rosie asked Will, but then turned to the air, “Babe, I
just want you to know that I’m sorry and I love you more than anything in the
world!” Tears poured out of her gorgeous eyes. It looked the Niagara Falls were
on fire.
“I’m sorry Rosie.” Will said very
nicely.
She looked at him for a moment.
Then, “Thank you Will.”
Will looked at Jim and Jim nodded
his head slightly. They talked in the car and Will knew exactly what to say. “Jim
says that he is sorry, he loves you more than anybody could possibly know and
he wants you to take care of your baby and live a long healthy life.”
Will got up and walked to the door.
Rosie was sitting there, looking so helpless, but he already did all he could.
Jim looked at him and said, “Thanks sonny, for everything. You can have my 1980
Pontiac Firebird if you promise to take good care of her.” Jim smiled, held
Rosie’s face in his hand, kissed her forehead and then disappeared.
Will walked out the door and
climbed into the driver’s seat. He drove all of the way home with the radio up
and the windows down. He pulled into his driveway to see his mom and Jessie and
Brian on the porch. “Where have you been?!” Demanded Will’s mother.
“I was doing good Mom. I was
helping a man.” Will replied.
“What do you say we go get some
Pizza?” Will’s mom asked, “We can take your knew car. I’ll drive.” Jessie,
Brian and Will’s mom jumped in the car.
Will thought to himself, “Well, I sure am glad Jess and Brian didn’t tell my mom I was talking to
the air.” Will climbed into the back seat and fell asleep laying on Jessie
and Brian. When he woke up, he was in a
white room, with padded walls. Nothing but light and…. A slice of pepperoni
pizza on a napkin in the corner.
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