This is a long story.
Have no fear, I’ll make it short.
My parents didn’t believe in dancing, but agreed
to let me go to the prom with a family friend
who was a GOOD BOY.
(red flag)
He borrowed his brother-in-law’s brand new
Catalina convertible for the evening.
(red flag)
He, Alan, my date, was a country kid who was
used to driving fast and carelessly on
country roads.
(red flag)
It was a cold and rainy night in April.
(red flag)
After going out to dinner, we arrived at the dance.
Halfway through the dance, Alan informed me
he wanted to take me home so he could
spend the rest of the night with Kathy.
Fine with me. I wasn’t having a good time anyway.
Alan, Neal (Kathy’s date), Kathy and I got into
Alan’s beautiful borrowed car and proceeded
to take Neal home. He lived in the country.
It was late and very foggy.
(red flag)
We took Kathy to her home where she changed
clothes. Then, with the the three of us in the front seat,
we proceeded into town to take me home.
Alan pulls out a bottle of alcohol.
(red flag)
He takes a drink and passes it to me. I decline, but Kathy
has some.
The UNFAMILIAR country roads prove
too much for Alan’s fast driving
(plus the fog, plus he’s stupid)
We miss a curve and plunge into a ravine.
(red flag)
No seat belts, but we are unharmed.
We climb out of the now totaled car
(red flag)
and begin to walk back to Kathy’s house.
Alan tosses the bottle of alcohol into a nearby
field and we all three swear to secrecy.
It’s a blur as to how I got home that night
(morning)
but to say the least my mother wasn’t happy.
(red flag)
That Monday we all LIED to the insurance agent
who took our statements about the accident.
Of course we felt justified because Alan only
had one drink before plunging us into the abyss.
Alan’s brother-in-law did not have a
smile on his face when he got the news
about his TOTALED brand new Catalina convertible.
(red flag)
There are so many morals to this story I
won’t bore you with any of them,
except to say,
NEVER IGNORE THE YOU-KNOW-WHATS
They’re there for a reason.
Au Revoir,
Mary
3 comments
Great oat, Mary…the suspense!!! That is a good stpry too, could have ended much worse, I am sure glad it didn’t! This can apply to all sorts of things. Great reminder!
I have heard this story many times…my favorite part was when you said “plus the fog, plus he’s stupid”. Cracks me up!
Such a classic, Mary…and a perfect reminder that there are “red flags” around us every day!