News from the Moon

Jason turned the knob of the car stereo and looked back up to the road. He was on his way to work and was driving his parent’s brand new, silver convertible that had Sebring stenciled on the side. He was late again as he sped through Middleton on his way to the factory where he worked in Cross Plains. As he left Middleton, the scenery changed from city to hilly farmland with trees scattered throughout.

Jason glanced back down at the radio, and when he looked up he met Natalie. He crashed into her car as she drove through an intersection. His front fender smashed into her trunk and sent her car spinning. Jason’s car ended up in a steaming stack off the road and in a field. They were driving the exact same car.

After the dust settled, Jason pushed open his door and fell out. He shook his head and stumbled over to Natalie’s car, where she was still sitting in the driver’s seat. He knocked on the window and she rolled it down.

“Are you all right?” Jason asked.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Natalie yelled, while swinging the door open and nearly hitting Jason.

“I’m so sorry. I guess I just didn’t see you.”

“You’re a real idiot, you know,” Natalie said, as she walked around her car to check the damage.

She was wearing a blue dress with little white flowers and her brown curls hung weightless down to her shoulders.

“You’re so fucking stupid! This is my parents’ car,” she screamed.

Natalie’s car was a wreck. Her rear wheel was flat, the axle bent, and of course the trunk was smashed in. Natalie started to shake and put her arms around herself.

Jason cautiously approached.

“Look, I’m really sorry. Maybe I can get my car to start and I can get us to an auto shop or something,” he offered.

Natalie calmed down after a few deep breaths and they stood next to her car, staring at it. Neither had been wearing a seat belt and neither had been seriously injured.

“It better fucking start,” Natalie muttered, then marched to Jason’s car.

Jason followed like the faithful cenobite he was, got in his car and tried to start it, but it wouldn’t turn. He looked at Natalie, who was standing with both arms crossed.

“It won’t start,” he said, getting out of the car.

“Obviously,” Natalie said, rolling her eyes.

Jason looked desperately at Natalie and went to the edge of the road to sit down. Natalie watched as Jason threw stones into the grass and then sat next to him. They sat without talking. It was too far from Middleton to walk, and because it was all fields, farmland, and forest for miles, there were no homes they could go to for assistance.

“My name is Jason,” he said, extending a hand.

“Natalie. And I’m sorry for being a bitch,” she said, gently shaking hands.

Jason reached into the pocket of his gray work shirt and took out a pack of cigarettes. He gestured an offer to Natalie and she refused. He lit the cigarette with a yellow lighter and inhaled and exhaled deeply.

“I’m gonna get fired,” Jason said, ashing his cigarette.