Better Than GPS

Toonrmicon Author: Robotech_Master Born in Kansas City, Kansas, Chris Meadows spent his formative years in Jonesboro, Arkansas, followed by the small-town environment of Cassville, Missouri, before moving to Springfield to attend Southwest Missouri State U... Read Bio

So anyway, at about 7:30 that night I went out to my old Honda Accord and started driving with no particular destination in mind. I turned at a whim, or if the light was red but I could take a right.

It should come as no surprise that at 7:59:59 I pulled up in front of an old two-story Colonial house. It looked like it had seen a few better days, but was still fundamentally sturdy. The few missing shingles or the odd loose shutter gave it an air of mussed preoccupation, like someone who forgot to comb her hair because she was too busy doing more important things.

And Jackie was standing at the curb, waiting. She looked great—except that she’d forgotten to comb her hair. “Hi!” she said. “You’re a second early.”

“I know,” I said, “but at the thought of seeing you, I just couldn’t keep my foot off the gas.”

She grinned. “Aw, that’s sweet!” She slid into the passenger seat, then closed her eyes, leaned back, and took a deep breath. “Nice car. It feels loved. Let’s go.”

I chuckled, and let up on the brake.

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Comments (4 so far!)

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  1. Avatar Tezrak

    Fantastic. The timing, the navigation…oh and of course, the hair.

  2. Toonrmicon Robotech_Master

    I’m glad you approve. As soon as I thought of the metaphor for the house’s condition, I knew it had to be reflected in Jackie’s description. I can’t really say why exactly, but I sort of see weird reflections or symmetries having a lot to do with Jackie and those who surround her.

    (Also, I really loved the narrator’s deadpan reaction to Jackie telling him he was early. :)

  3. Avatar Tezrak

    I’ll have to keep the symmetries in mind when I sequel (yes, I just used sequel as a verb. Fear.me.)

    I think the narrator is starting to pick up on these sorts of things and not be surprised by them. :)

  4. Avatar Pyropunk 51 (PPP LoA)

    the description of the house and the girl totally fit with the image in my head.

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