The Second Step

10/08/2013 2022

It turns out that the second step is even crazier than rock bottom.  It all started the other night when The Goat Man and I were sitting on the front porch enjoying the nice night. 

We have again found the place where we simply enjoy each other every second we can be together.  The stress of the bottom threatened to take that away from us.  I never thought this world could take The Goat Man away, but it was a big fear.

We clearly heard a long squeal, another long, but different, long squeal and then crunching metal.  This was followed by a medium squeal and a thud.

            “That was close.”  The Goat Man started toward the sidewalk. “Let’s go for a walk baby.”  He was already headed down the sidewalk.

I looked at my pajamas and headed back into the house for a bra and some shoes.  The Goat Man headed down the sidewalk.  Once we were back together again we enjoyed the nice night with a walk.

We could see the fire truck blocking the side road.  The lights flashed on the houses.  However, when we got close the scene was confusing.  A single car smashed in the rear sat at the stop sign.  The fire truck was across the road in front of it and two police cars rested near the scene.  There was no sign of an accident, other than the crowd, or any other cars.

We walked past discussing what we both clearly heard when we noticed more dancing lights up ahead.  So down a block and to the right a block we traveled.  It was obvious an accident took place here.  The road, closed off by a police car, was covered in glass and various objects.  The objects including a folding chair and a winter hat spread all down the block.

            “Where’s the other cars?”  The Goat Man spoke to the officer.

            “Just one car.”  The Goat Man explained what we both clearly heard. “Just one car.  It hit that tree.”  The officer pointed to a tree on the corner.  We did not see any skid marks.  Unsatisfied with what we had seen we headed back to the original scene.

The bystanders at the original scene gave us the entire scoop but it made no sense.

            “They were doing about 90 around that corner and they hit the tree.  I heard the noise, came out of my house, and chased them down because they were trying to get away.”

            “The rear axel is broken.”  The Goat Man whispered to me.

            “One kid, without his seatbelt, went to the hospital because his arm was black and the parents came to pick up another.”

            “There were four in the car?” I asked.

            “Yeah, those two also.”  He pointed to a boy standing under a tree in the yard on the corner and a smaller boy leaning against the car with his back to us.  The police sat in their cars.  No one was talking to anyone.

An older car pulled up with three middle age people inside.  A tall man who rushed over to the boy under the tree, a woman who stood on the corner with the crowd, and a heavy set woman who started to walk toward the smashed car.  An officer intercepted her path.

            “Are you the mother?”  The woman nodded. “Your son is going to jail tonight.”  The rest of the conversation was too difficult to hear.

Moments later the mother and the officer started talking to the boy leaning on the car.  He explained that he was being chased down the other road by another car.  This other car rear-ended him and they spun into the tree.  The car hit the tree with the driver’s side rear door.  The car then spun down the block.

            “I am the one that called the cops.  I am the one that stopped.”  The kid explained to the officer.  Moments later the helicopters started flying overhead.

The Goat Man and I walked hand in hand home.

Next time I will tell you about The Goat Man’s other girlfriend.