Face to Face

There were appointments Rod Johnson had been late for in his life, but he wouldn’t dare miss this one.

“What do you want to listen to?” asked Jed Turner, Rod’s business partner, and this week’s car pool driver.

“Something romantic,” said Rod with a wry smile, “and step on it will ya? ”

“No fogging up the windows, Rod,” said Sammy from the back seat.

Laughing, Billy turned to Sammy and exchanged a high-five.

Jed turned his head and breathed hot air on the window. He removed a hand from the steering wheel and had just drawn a heart when Rod heard a sickening screech, and felt crystal shards cut his face. Soon, everything had lost its color and meaning.

Rod awoke on his back sometime later. Flashing lights and unfamiliar voices disoriented him.

He sat up on a stretcher bed and surveyed the scene. He wanted to find his friends, but only saw the smashed up car.

“Where are the others?” Rod asked a nearby paramedic who was writing intently on a clipboard.

“Are they alright?” asked Rod.

The Paramedic tightened his lips, nodded, and then turned back to the scene.
“They’re okay,” he told himself, although he didn’t see them anywhere. They had probably left already.

Rod rotated his feet and felt his arms. He felt no pain, so he hopped off the bed. Then, he remembered his engagement with Suzanne. He didn’t want her to worry.

He wandered past the crowd gathered around the wreck, and found his way to the street curb raising a hand to hail a cab.

“21st and Washington please,” said Rod as he entered the first cab that pulled over.

The driver leaned forward in his seat and pressed a clicker button to add a passenger to his daily tally.

Rod cringed as a siren sounded, and colored lights filled the cab. The surly cab driver lifted a piece of paper and murmured, “Congratulations. You’re passenger 30 today, No fare;” then snorted. Rod sank back in the seat breathing deeply.

They finally arrived at Caballeros, Suzanne’s favorite Mexican restaurant. Despite the crowd, he spotted her as soon as he entered. He was bothered by how upset she seemed. She was even talking to herself as he sat down.

She took a deep breath as he took his place opposite her.

“Hi there,” she managed.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I know I’m a mess. You wouldn’t believe the night –“

“-Just listen to me. I have something to tell you.” She sat up a little straighter in her chair.

“Okay…”

“Jed and I… We…” She held her hand over her mouth.

Rod stiffened, trembling.

“Now that wasn’t very convincing, was it?” she said to herself straightening her blouse.

“Rod, I have something to tell you,” she started again.

Rod shot up, knocking his chair over as he circled the table and throttled her.

Suzanne flinched at the chair, startled. Suddenly she couldn’t breathe.

“Now you can tell me face to face,” whispered Rod.