Bumpy Journey

It was a real beauty. From a decade on the verge of being forgotten. A time when the designs were larger, smoother, bolder. Just plain boisterous. Its color screamed for attention. Drawing the eye line of anyone in sight. The roar from under the hood startled him the first time him he twisted the key in the ignition. He could feel the power surging through the pedals, into his body. It wanted to be let loose. Out on an open road, where it could really stretch its legs, shake the dust from within its cylinders and show off.

Luckily, thats where they were headed. Out into the hills, to weave in and out of the tree lined hills. Through snow dusted mountains and secluded valleys.

He was ready for an adventure. To be taken on a journey. Let go of everything and just cruise. Not worry about home, work, where he needed to be the next day. Just disappear for a while. Completely off the grid.

Deep down though he was nervous. It had been years since the last time he used a clutch. Eased it in without the gas. Shifting gears smoothly - finding the right notch - that satisfying resistance. The first couple miles had been bumpy. He could smell the clutch burning, hear the gears grinding. Rather than galloping down the road as it should, the car stuttered and shook. Coughing out exhaust every time he slipped.

Back when he was younger, it seemed so much easier. Sitting next to his father, on a barren road in the middle of a desert on an island in the Caribbean, stalling amongst the sand dunes and rocks wasn't such a big deal. It was an old beaten up jeep - its time had come and gone. Now was the time for retirement. It had no prestige to it anymore, only rust and chipped paint. There weren't any cars behind him, honking in frustration. Intersections weren't jammed because he popped the clutch too early. The smell of grinding metal was carried away on every gust of wind. It was just him and clutch.

By now he had started to get the hang of it once again. The engine whined every so often, but only to guide him in the right direction. It wasn't yelling at him anymore. Pleading for him to stop. Yet every time a squeal came from under the hood, he could hear her snickering next to him. Sometimes it'd blend in with the noises of the car, other times it was rather obvious. Even when she tried to hide it, he'd shoot her a look and see the twinkle in her eyes - the rising of her cheeks. He had done her a favor. Agreed to drive the first leg - the most important piece of the journey - pulling out of the rental lot. Not only did he have to deal with her muffled laughter from the seat next to him, but he could see the employees in the rear view mirrors chuckling, turning away as he struggling to get the car to move the ten feet from the parking space to the exit.

It was alright though. Her laughter trickled down into his system and welled up, bringing a smile to his face. It made light of the situation and revealed its absurdity. There wasn't a better copilot he could ask for.

Yet all he was waiting for was the first rest stop, when they could switch and it would be his turn to let his laughter boil over.

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