Friday, June 17, 2011

Epilogue

"It looks like a movie, don't it?"

He raised his hand and waved a finger forward. She looked over at him. He had one of his lanky legs crossed over the other with his boot heel jammed against the air vent so it wouldn't slip. It didn't look all that comfortable, least not compared to both flat on the floor, but he'd been riding that way for the past sixty miles or so, so who knew. He gestured again, this time with his chin and a little tilt of his head. She smiled at him, perhaps a bit wickedly. She knew how to rile him, and enjoyed doing it. He thought himself so easy-going; some sort of carefree cowboy who rode his own trail far apart from the agitated masses... and yet it took so little to turn his face all petulant and pouty. She marveled sometimes that he couldn't see it on himself. He caught it though this time and grinned at her.

"That's not exactly what I'd call safe driving there, ten-and-two."
She laughed and turned back to face the road, her eyes automatically pulling focus through the bug-splatted window, first to the road and then to the desert horizon that sprawled pink and purple across the front of distance like a local motel mural.

He was right, it did look like a movie, and not a recent one either. It looked painted and two-dimensional--how'd they used to do it? Giant backdrops placed fifty feet behind the actors, right? And the audience went right along and believed it was real 'cause what other choice did they have.

"Everyone used to get to participate in creating the particular world of movies they watched."
She knew he was suddenly listening to her intently; she could see it in her peripheral. "That's why no one likes movies now as much as we all used to."

He made a sound as he smiled, a delighted exhalation. From the corner of her eye she watched him open his mouth to reply but then he closed it and instead uncrossed his leg and pulled a bunch of slack into his seat belt. He moved against her with uncertain purpose. There was an urgency in the way he kissed her neck and desire trembled his hands, but he didn't know quite what to do with them. He caressed her bicep with his right hand and followed her bent arm down, finally wrapping his hand around hers against the steering wheel. He slid his left arm around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. She glanced down and their eyes met. She could feel his heart beating. She laughed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"What?!!"
His heart was beating directly into her right nipple and for some reason she found it equal parts arousing and absurd.

When she didn't answer he tugged the wheel a bit to the right. The car lurched slightly and she elbowed him in the stomach.
"Ooof! Ow."
"Well, don't do that."
"'Cause you're the driver?"
"Right, 'cause I'm the driver."
"And you're in control?"
"I'm in control."
He relaxed his hand and rubbed the tip of his thumb in tiny apologetic circles around the back of her thumb knuckle.

"I may have to steal your theory." He breathed into her collarbone. "It's too good not to be my own."
"Take it. I got plenty."
He smiled against her shoulder. She could feel the corner of his mouth pull across her skin. The final pumpkin sliver of sun vanished behind the distant range. She reached down and clicked the headlights on. His side jostled against hers as he chuckled. She laughed too and he promptly kissed her cheek. He'd teased her without saying a word. They both knew smart drivers turn the headlights on when the sun goes down, but her timing had been too precise not to have a laugh.

The highway hummed beneath their tires, the only music they needed now. Under the blazing midday sun, with the air conditioner rasping, you can lose your good moods without Petty and Lyle and Dwight and all the rest, but the desert road at twilight brings its own quiet song and you miss all the chords if you don't hold someone and listen.

"Well anyway, it does look like a movie."

And he was right, it did.

16 Comments:

At 10:47 PM, Blogger Captain Mog said...

How the fuck did I know to come to your blog... today... after 4 years?! I'm kinda freaking out here. But that was sum perty writin'.

Love, Mog.

 
At 7:44 PM, Anonymous woodlawnmedic said...

found your blog kinda late. glad youre back and i hope you brought the kid back with you.

 
At 5:40 PM, Blogger Isaac said...

I don't reckon this is much more than a one off, but that was real nice Latigo.

 
At 1:36 PM, Anonymous Richard said...

Thank you, Latigo, for returning and gracing us with at least a few more pretty words. I had long feared you might have been imprisoned for something that parents have to make up names for when they explain it to their children. That or tax evasion.

 
At 2:10 AM, Blogger tangled said...

It isn't fair, what you called this post.
On the other hand - :) :)

 
At 6:48 PM, Anonymous Mr. Scoop said...

A girl and a car? YOU'RE NOT LATIGO FLINT!

...Unless this is some kind of hostage situation. In which case: welcome back, hoss!

...yeah, I been drinking. What's your point?

Okay,
Mr. Scoop

 
At 10:46 AM, Blogger The Macek Collective said...

May your spurs forever jangle a happy jangle.

 
At 9:02 AM, Blogger Mary Ann Lewis said...

I wish for you and yours many fat, happy days for all the delight you have brought me.

 
At 1:07 AM, Blogger Latigo Flint said...

Thanks Captain. I reckon I got a perty mouth... some folks say. Love you too.

Don't worry much 'bout being late, WoodLawnMedic, Latigo Flint was born 150 friggin' years too late so you got some time to spare. (BTW, The Kid prefers it if you capitalize "The Kid". But I won't tell on you and fortunately he don't read so good.)

Much obliged, Isaac, my old friend. I'm reckoning that as well but you never know; the writing itch is a mighty strange welt.

Howdy Richard, good to read your voice. Yup, but 'course you and I both know that the only real vulgar word these days is t.a.x.e.s. (spelled, not said, to protect their innocent ears.)

Nothing ever lasts, sweet Tangled... including disappearances. Glad you enjoyed.

Howdy Mr. Scoop. Feels like old times my dear amigo: you're drunk, I'm typing one-handed... Yeah, that drive was out of character but true to my luck she maced me and left me to writhe in a gutter just outside Amarillo for groping her while she slept. (See, I'd dropped a peanut m&m on her side of the car and figured it'd rolled into the crack of her seat.)

Thanks Macek. I reckon they will... I reckon they better! (Fuckin' spurs.)

Toga, it delights me no end to hear that I have delighted you. One minor clarification though: there is no "yours," I walk alone as always. (There was a girl briefly but she maced me and left me to writhe in a gutter outside of Amarillo as an overreaction to a minor grope-related misunderstanding.)

 
At 5:27 PM, Blogger Bottle Rocket Fire Alarm said...

I'm over a year late to the reunion, and all that remains are tumbleweeds and sun shimmer. Apropos.

 
At 1:35 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You're a wordsmith extraordinaire, Latigo Flint. And I love you for it.

 
At 6:17 PM, Blogger Tom Hurley said...

Latigo, I'm disturbed. Knowing that all your post times end in a multiple of six, and seeing that your Epilogue was posted at 1:19, is disturbing. The writing, as usual, is pure Flint, even better than most Flint, but the post timeā€¦I'm worried as hell.

 
At 7:14 AM, Anonymous Strange Forces said...

You cannot believe how wide my eyes got when I read the date on the latest post.

I guess it does pay to check for updates to aeons-old blogs that may be defunct.

Excellent prose, sir.

 
At 5:12 PM, Blogger MJ said...

Holy road apples, is it good to read you again! I love the image of our anachro-licious hero riding into the sunset with what we can only assume is the Barista, who finally succumbed to the swarthy but undeniable charm of a true quickdraw.

 
At 8:55 AM, Blogger dramas Video said...

Halik TFC Channel Video bbc online 2019
viagra gold shop 2019

Valium 2019

Pinoytv work 2019

 
At 11:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't believe for a second that was the barista that done you wrong. Sometimes the sweetest love never comes to fruition...and we settle for what seems like a close second but never is...

When I lived in North Hollywood I followed your writings till you disappeared. Then I moved to Montucky for health reasons. Checked for new posts every coupla years then gave up...glad to see you're still stalkin' the earth Latigo.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home