So Many Times

Main Squeeze Chapter 2

“Hey, you missed the onramp to the interstate!” Joe said.

“I thought we’d take the state roads. It’s a prettier drive. And we’ll still get there in plenty of time.”

“Fine.” Joe slumped in the seat. “Hey, do you have the heater on?”

“No, but I can turn on the air conditioning if you want.”

“Yeah, that would be good.”

“Joe, are you ok? You’re sweating.”

Joe panted, “Not ok.” He grabbed his chest.

“I’m pulling over.” Sharon stopped the car on the side of the road. She grabbed a blanket from the trunk, laid it on the ground, and pulled Joe from the car. “Here, sweetie, rest here.”

Joe collapsed onto the blanket. “Call for help….” he gasped.

She held him in her arms. “I won’t be able to get you to a doctor in time.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “There’s only one last thing I can do for you.”

She laid down beside him in a fetal position and undid the knot of her hair. It streamed all around her, covering her body. Her hair turned into a hard, white shell. The shell glowed and rocked.

Joe heard a crack and struggled to raise himself onto his elbows.

Three young Sharons, about 20 years old, with long blond hair and violet eyes emerged from the cracked shell. They stood over Joe. One of them said, “I’m showing you the aliens, sweetie. We’ve been here all the time.”

Joe groaned, rolled onto his side, and closed his eyes for the last time.

The Sharon who spoke bent down and kissed his cheek. The other two Sharons wrapped him in the blanket.

“Goodbye, Joe. We loved you,” they said as they held hands.

The Sharons looked into each other’s eyes and nodded. They got back into the car, and drove off to the next town so that they each could find a new main squeeze.