My Car Broke Down In The Middle Of Nowhere, And Now I’m Pretty Sure I’ll Never Get Home

“Boy, that whiskey really did me in.” Morgan rubbed his forehead and grimaced.

“Oh me too. I was out like a light.”

Morgan smiled and looked at Tommy’s greasy hands.

“You working on the car?” Morgan asked.

Tommy raised an eyebrow questioningly and then looked at his hands. “Oh! Yeahhh, just some last minute ‘justments,” Tommy said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Morgan furrowed his eyebrows and glanced behind Tommy at the barn. A strange chill ran up his spine, but he shook it off.

“Mmk,” Morgan said satisfied. “Well… I guess I’ll go grab my stuff and head outta here then. I really appreciate all tha—“

“Wait,” Tommy interrupted. “You’re leaving…?” Tommy looked up at Morgan like a child who’s Dad was leaving on a long business trip. “I thought we were friends.”

“Well, yeah Tommy, we are, but I gotta get going. My cabin is only rented for two weeks. I need to start writing.” Morgan couldn’t shake off the next chill. It lingered on top of his spine.

“Y’all can write here!” Tommy said eagerly.

“Tommy, I appreciate everything you did for me. I really do.” Morgan grabbed his wallet from his back pocket and started flipping through twenty-dollar bills. “Here’s $200. It’s all I have at the moment, but I really need to head out.”

“I don’t want yer money, Mo.” Tommy looked at his feet.

“You can’t leave.” Tommy whispered under his breath.

“What?” Morgan leaned in and asked? He felt for Tommy. He half-wanted to stay and hang out too. Tommy didn’t repeat himself. He just kicked at the dirt under his boots. Morgan straightened up and turned to go inside and grab his duffle bag. When he returned to the porch, Tommy was sitting on the rocking chair, picking at the calluses on his hands. Morgan shook his head. The guy obviously had no friends or family. He was lonely. He put his hand on Tommy’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Tommy. I mean that. I have to go now.” Tommy didn’t answer and Morgan walked across the lawn to the barn. He hopped in his car, pulled the key from his pocket, and jammed it into the ignition. ERRR CLUNK! He turned the key again. ERRRRRERRRR CLUNK!

“Oh come on God dammit!” Morgan sat back in his seat and remembered Tommy coming out of the barn this morning. A rage came over his face. “Fucker.”

He slammed the car door and began back to the porch.

“Tommy!” Morgan yelled. Tommy just rocked back and forth with his head down. Morgan quickened his pace. “Tommy, what’d you do to my car?” Morgan yelled again as he got closer to the porch.

Still no answer.

Morgan marched up the porch stairs and stood in front of the chair. He bent down to Tommy’s level.

“Tommy… What did you do to my car this morning?”

Tommy didn’t answer at first, but then something slid out of his mouth. “I can’t let you leave,” he whispered under his breath. Morgan stood up, dumbfounded.

“What do you mean you can’t let me leave?” Morgan’s shock began to turn to anger.

“I’m not allowed,” Tommy replied. Morgan’s eyes widened and he bent down to Tommy’s level again.

“Look you little fucker, fix my fucking car so I can get out of here.”

Tommy turned his head up at Morgan. His eyes were black. “I’m sorry, Mo.” Tommy’s hand shot out and grabbed Morgan by the neck. Morgan’s eyes popped out of his head as he grabbed Tommy’s arm trying to pull it away. His grip squeezed the oxygen out of Morgan’s throat and Morgan could feel himself fading. Tommy rose up out of his seat and now Morgan’s feet were barely touching the ground.