The New Year is underway! Blessings to you for all good things. Welcome to Tuesday Tales, powered by a small group of authors, where word prompts inspire passages in the books we’re writing. Today’s prompt is song. My snippet is from a cozy mystery set in fictional Glisten, Georgia. When you finish reading, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
When the line cleared, I hit the pedal hard and zoomed onto the road. The SUV swerved into position right behind me. He hovered on my rear end so close I expected to be jolted at any moment. He tapped my bumper. Then tapped it again. Then he gave it a vigorous whack, pushing me sideways off the road. I clutched the wheel and turned into the spin. My eyes squeezed shut as I held on for dear life.
The spin was wicked. After a century or perhaps an eon, the brakes finally engaged, and the car came to a stop. My eyes flew open and wanted to close again. Luck was with me. My front end had missed the sturdy leg of a billboard by two inches. I looked up to see a colorful cowboy and cowgirl promoting the Song in Your Heart old time radio show, which was the current rage in vintage throwbacks. I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh hysterically.
My car was running and sounded okay. Foot still on the brake, I turned to look behind me. Thank God, no big SUV loomed there. I shifted into Park. Flicking my gaze far up the road, I caught a glimpse of a dark SUV way up ahead. He was changing lanes willy nilly, maneuvering around slower traffic, leaving the scene using the hell bent for leather method. I put fingers to my throbbing temples.
Trembling all over, I retrieved my phone from the floorboard to report the incident. It may or may not help to catch the lunatic that had stalked me on the road, but it would serve for insurance purposes. If it could prevent someone else from being a victim of the driver from hell, all the better. After assuring that I was safely out of harm’s way, the operator told me to stay put. A Trooper was enroute. He also alerted road patrols to scour the area for an erratic, dark blue SUV. I took a long slug of water, which soothed my suddenly hoarse, parched throat—had I screamed and not realized it?–and exited the car to survey the damage.
I frowned at the decisive dent in the back bumper. Not only had the road stalker scared me out of ten years growth, but I also owed him for a probable hefty insurance increase as well. Grrr.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the piece inspired by the word song. If you haven’t done so already, check out the other excerpts at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories
All rights reserved, copyright @ 2024 Flossie Benton Rogers
How terrifying. Glad she’s okay. Great scene.
Thank you, Susanne!
I loved the lines “After a century or perhaps an eon, the brakes finally engaged, and the car came to a stop.” Also, the road stalker scared me out of ten years growth.” Great snippet, Flossie!
Thanks for pointing out those lines you liked, Mae. Wishing you all good things for January!
Heart stopping excerpt this week! But thank you for not giving us another cliff hanger. Not sure my heart could take that on top of the suspense of being driven off the road. Boy, it could have ended up a whole lot worse. But I don’t believe it’s just a lunatic. I think it was someone after her. I hope she sees that reality and takes extra care. Great excerpt. As usual. Beautifully written.
Thank you! I’m so glad it was heart stopping. Yes, it could have been much worse. Luck stood with her this time.
GIRL!! You know me and my traffic stories in real life and I could picture this exactly how it happened. Good job putting the reality into the scene. Glad she’s okay and hope the idiot’s car explodes. LOL! Jillian
You made me chuckle with that last wish for the overbearing traffic stalker! Thanks for letting me know you could picture the scene. Luck stood in her corner during the ordeal.
Sometimes, when the traffic idiots are out and pass me, I say, “boom” and hold my hand up in an explosion motion. LOL!
I don’t blame you. You do a lot of driving and must see it all.
for sure!
Yikes! What a terrifying snippet. I’m so glad she’s okay. Of course, she has to be so you can finish the book LOL Great job, Flossie. Excellent writing. And how you worked in the ‘song’ prompt! Superb! I’m impressed.
Thanks, Trisha. I’m glad you liked the song billboard!