Fun with Frank

A running, first draft only, write-yourself-into-and-out-of-a-corner kind of serial story.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

58...

“Oh, I’ll get it for you,” Randy said as he continued on towards the car.
“I didn’t realize that this was a full service station.”
“It’s not.”
He tried on his best cool and cocky smile, but it felt all wrong on his face. He knew it would be worse though if he completely changed expressions, so he let it ride for a moment. He turned back towards the car so he could let it fall.
“Well…”
He turned back to her again, waiting for her thought to finish, but she remained silent, her face impassive.
“I’ll just… grab my purse,” she finally said she walked past him and to the car. He could faintly smell her sweat mingled with the musky perfume she was wearing as she passed and felt a little light headed, a little aroused. He watched her open the door and lean into the car. She tossed something into the backseat, looked over the headrest at something, grabbed her purse and stood up.
She clutched her purse to her and closed the car door. She must dye her hair, he thought. The blonde color just didn’t seem to fit her.
“Do you have a restroom I can use?” she asked.
“It’s for employees only actually, but I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.” He could feel that lame smile trying to climb up on his face again, but fought the urge.
“Thanks,” she said. She put her hand lightly on his shoulder again as she passed.
Randy trembled slightly. He watched her enter the building and then slowly turned and went to the car. He used a key on his massive key ring to unlock the gas pump and inserted the hose into the car. He looked out over those bland, rounded hills and felt the pressure of the fluid pump out into the car.
Inserting the gas cap into the handle of the pump so that it could keep going without him standing there, Randy went to check the windshield. Cars coming through this part of the highway tended to have a lot of bugs smashed in the windshield. He figured he would go ahead and wash them off for her.
He pulled a squeegee that was falling apart out of muddy water and began to scrub off the windshield. He had to push down with force to eradicate some of remains that had smashed violently and then baked in that hot sun until they were as stubborn as cement. Randy began to wipe the water away, watching intently as the dark brown rivulets of used water flowed down the side. It was the snap of the pump finishing that awoke him from the self induced daze he was in.
Randy removed the gas hose and noted the total price. He looked back towards the mini market, attempting to peer through the windows for the young lady inside. He squinted against the glare off the window, but could still see nothing.
Randy looked back towards the car and into open window. The car was pretty clean, no junk food wrappers, no fast food bags. There were also no bags that would contain things packed for a trip, things like clothes. The back seat was devoid of travel debris except for the jacket that was now strewn across the floor in the back.
Something caught Randy’s eyes and he once again squinted to verify what he thought he saw. His eyes quickly widened when his thoughts were confirmed.

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