Ponderations

Posted 9/23/15

The pressure was building. Charles was revving the engine of his car. Bill answered with a loud roar from his car. Each gave a glaring glance toward the other.

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Ponderations

Posted

The pressure was building. Charles was revving the engine of his car. Bill answered with a loud roar from his car. Each gave a glaring glance toward the other. Side by side they were when something unseen and unsaid signaled the start of the unplanned and unexpected race. Smoke from the burning rubber of the tires shot out from the spinning wheels as the cars gained momentum and speed, nearly flying up the two lane farm to market road that ran north and south between cotton fields.

I was a teenager once upon a time and I had a lot of teenage friends, but I never, ever understood the forces that ran through the minds of some of us. Why did we engage in dangerous activitieshellip;activities that not only placed us in great peril but endangered innocent, unsuspecting folks? Was it excitement? Maybe it was. Could it have been the challenge? That was a good possibility. Most certainly we were not bored since every one of us had long lists of chores to do on our family farms, plenty to occupy both mind and body. Whatever the reason, we were normal teenagers doing risky things without weighing the consequences of our actions.

The sun was brightly shining. I was driving a tractor, plowing the ground and was lost in my thoughts, about what I do not remember. I do recall being startled by the noise of two cars coming full throttle. I looked up to see Charles and Bill whizzing by heading north, side by side, neither giving an inch. In an instant they were out of sight. I returned to my plowing and my aimless thoughts.

Probably about an hour later I heard the noise of a car engine coming toward the farm. It was the sound of a car struggling as it towed another car which was badly banged up on the sides, top and bottom. They had attempted to negotiate a sharp curve without slowing and Charles' car did not make it, rolling over two times and landing on its tires. Fortunately, neither was hurt beyond a few bruises and severe soreness.

I asked Charles later why they raced on that day. He answered with the all too common response, "I don't know. We just did it." Life is worth more than a thoughtless whim.