11 April 2005

The last gas station on earth


The Pontiac thumped over a pothole and Frank watched the fuel gauge lift then settle on 'Empty' again. "Fuck it," he breathed and hit the steering wheel hard. They had passed a Texaco 10 miles back and were now running on vapour. "Look," cried Paula, "Gas ahead!" She launched her finger toward a run-down gas station and general store in the distance.

Frank pulled onto the cracked cement beside a solitary ancient pump. Is that gas or paraffin he wondered. His gaze took in the peeling paint, ice machine and an ages old Coca Cola sign hanging by one screw. "Stay here Paula." He shut the car door slowly and stepped past a deck chair faded and stained with age. Through the window past the hand-written 'Open' sign he could make out an old boy, a wad of chewing tobacco in his cheek.

A bell clanged loudly as he pushed the door and somewhere out back a dog started barking gruffly and ominously. The skeletal figure waved a thin hand and in a barely intelligible accent rattled, "If it's gas you want, go through and talk to Billy." A fly buzzed in Frank's ear and he slapped it away as he nodded, "Thanks."

In the back sat Billy and three friends grinning with menace. A rotting Plymouth Fury sitting up on bricks was visible in the back yard and a German Shepherd sat in its shade, tongue out panting. Frank thought of Paula sitting in the Pontiac holding the battery powered fan to her pretty face.

Suddenly Billy shrieked, "It's party time!" His pals stood up, chair legs scraping on the bare wood floor. Frank turned and saw his way back blocked by the muzzle of a 12-bore shot gun in the hands of the old boy. As his eyes darted frantically for another exit he heard Paula shouting. The shout became a siren winding up to full scream. Then silence.


"You fucking bastards! What have you done?" The gun barrel pushed closer and touched his temple. Frank screwed his eyes shut and a sharp metallic click rang out. When Frank opened them Paula was sitting in the passenger seat of the Pontiac lighting a cigarette and smiling. "Wake up hon', rest over. We need to drive on and get that gas now or we ain't never gonna make it to Huntsville!"

12 comments:

Perfect Virgo said...

Denis that's a great plot for a story! Wouldn't be faintly autobiographical would it?! If I get time to develop the notion be sure I'll let you know!

I have a few ideas knocking around at the moment, mostly for short stories. There may be an abrupt end to my desk job this year so I might try writing for more than just pleasure.

Your encouragement is very gratifying.

Perfect Virgo said...

I'm a decade behind you but know what you mean about mortality. I read several French authors at school including Camus and Flaubert (largely tedious) but I missed out on Maupassant.

I always understood he was linked in literature with Poe in terms of stories of the macabre. I love Poe (I did a post a while back called "The Pit and the Pendulum." I need to check out Messr Maupassant.

Cooperative writing does have its drawbacks as you say, also I feel there may be an element of pressure to write something instead of letting it out when the muse really hits you.

Grace said...

Great story, those old gas stations really made an impression on you? I wish I had more of an imagination, I'm just too logical to let my mind wander!

Perfect Virgo said...

Grace - I find I have developed more imagination as I've grown older. I think I see through things more. Couple that with all the influences soaked up along the way and you have a story!

There is nothing wrong with logic, you need that too.

Recovery Road London said...

Good to see you back, PV. I've enjoyed to pics and posts.

Perfect Virgo said...

Thanks roots. The pics are a fair reflection of what I did and saw. I was grateful to get some internet access to maintain the diary.

Back to reality now. And well done to you.

superflywebpimp said...

i see our beautiful country gas stations have instilled the same fear in you as they have in me. its party time indeed!

"It is better to deserve honors and not have them, than to have them and not to deserve them." mark twain

Perfect Virgo said...

Superfly you just knew I would be inspired and I do believe I took a leaf from your book with the trick ending.

Oh yes, party time!!

Jen said...

Just missin' you so I thought I would stop in.

Perfect Virgo said...

I'm touched Jen, thanks for calling in. Not stopping for gas then?

Anonymous said...

Perfect

I have been so wrapped up in school vacation, that I hadn't had time to get here. It's 130am here in the us and I have just read a perfect ending to an old gas station story.

Yep, I knew you could and would change the ending so as to realize that your fears were indeed just a dream :)

Great job :)

Perfect Virgo said...

Well spotted Doughgirl, I thought you would like this one. Even at 1:30 in the morning!

I noticed you weren't around for a while but your own posts explained how busy you've been.

Just a dream...