“The future isn’t a straight road purposely designed by the traveler. The future is made of the actions of the present, each and every one, the choices of the moment inadvertently strung together to produce the desired trail (R. A. Salvatore).”
The early morning air was brisk with its October chill. This was the witching hour (3am), so every one in this quaint neighborhood was fast asleep safely in their homes. As I ran by their homes, I was focused on getting to my destination, so there was no time to take in the beauty of this neighborhood. My lungs were burning from inhaling and exhaling the cold morning air. My muscles ached in protest to the strain I was placing on them. I’d never run so hard before. Fear of getting caught will do that to you! I knew the police would be looking for me soon and I needed to get to my car in order to escape them.
I saw my car just ahead of me, but I also heard the sound of sirens blaring in the distance. A jolt of adrenaline coursed through my veins causing me to run faster than I was already running. No time to slow down now, I thought. I need to get to my car and everything will be alright, was my reasoning.
Finally, I made it to my car. It took me a while to get my keys out of my pocket, its hard to function rationally when your adrenaline is at such a high level. With the keys in my hand, I tried to put it in the lock, but my hand was shaking like a dog drying himself after getting wet. After trying a few times I got the door open and stepped into the sanctuary of my car. I started to relax just a little, but now my new mission is to get as far away from here as I possibly can.
Right when I put the key in the ignition I saw a blue and red light flash in my rear view mirror. My eyes got bigger than saucers, I could hardly breathe and on some sort of primal instinct I let my seat all the way back. I dared not breathe or make any sound. My heart was hammering furiously against my ribcage as though it was about to burst through my chest. Being a soldier, my hand snaked its way to the gun on my waist. I was highly trained by Uncle Sam for situations just like this, but not in this context. Then it dawned on me, the gun wasn’t loaded!
I heard the sound of the approching police car. I saw the red and blue lights flashing. I closed my eyes tight and started praying to a God I didn’t believe in. The police car was so close to my car that I could hear the crackling radio. But they hadn’t noticed me lean back. They soon passed me by and kept going. I breathed a cautious sigh of relief when I could no longer see flashing lights. Still, I dared not move. I just lay there and waited. My mind was in tune with my now slowing heartbeat. The adrenaline started to ebb out of my system and now my thoughts started careening to what I had done to get myself in this situation. I robbed a store; another store. I silenced the thought by reminding myself that I needed the money because a wife and children are depending on me to provide for them.
Time seemed to crawl by at a snails pace. I figured enough time has passed, so it should be safe for me to leave. I turned the key and the car rumbled to life. The sound of the CD I was listening to filled the the car. I started to really relax at the sound of Pastor Troy’s voice. I went to put the car in gear and it suddenly shuddered to a stop. I turned it over again, but it did the same thing again. That’s when I noticed my fuel gauge and remembered that it was busted. I racked my mind trying to remember: when was the last time I’d gotten gas? I silently cursed myself for being so absent minded. Well, no time to cry over spilled milk, I got to go and get some gas because I’ve got to report to Ft. Story in less than two hours.
I opened the car door and stepped tentatively out. I looked around, took a deep breath and bent over to pull the trunk release. I moved to the rear of my car and looked inside my gym bag for a different shirt to put on. I had my head on a swivel looking for any sign of the police or anyone else. Looking around showed me how beautiful this neighborhood actually was.
But I didn’t investigate any further outside of looking at how nice the house I was parked in front of was. I shut the trunk and set off on my mission to get some gas. I walked down the sidewalk of the street that I had just ran down like a track star. When I got to the end of the street, I made a right. I remembered passing a gas station in that direction. I walked for about ten minutes when a bright spotlight shined in my face from my left side.
As I turned to face the light with my upraised hand to shield my eyes I heard a calm voice say, “Sir, can we have a word with you?”
“What seems to be the problem officer?” was my response.
He said, “Where are you headed?”
“I ran out of gas and I was headed to a gas station to get some, so I won’t be late reporting for duty.”
The light shinning in my face was turned off and I could now put a face to the voice. He got out of the passenger side of the crusier, walked over to me and asked, “Do you have any ID on you?”
“Yes sir.” was my response as I reached in my pocket and gave him my military ID. He took it, looked at it then at me and seemed to get even calmer then he already was.
He gave me my ID and said, “I’m going to level with you, there was a robbery at a store over two hours ago, and you fit the description that me and my partner was given. So can I ask you some questions?”
Next post will be: My Journey: Part Two
Contact author at:
Jesse M. Carreker #1130497
Nottoway Correctional Center
P O Box 488
Burkeville, VA 23922
e-mail me @ http://www.jpay.com by submitting my name or Virginia state ID number: 1130497
I guess the inevitable happened given you are writing this from prison. Your writing is very descriptive and takes the reader along with you on the journey.
You write very well.