She groaned then again searched left and right without the flashlight. Then all of a sudden the small light went out. Barbara grew weary.īarbara stepped foot onto the dirt road with her bare aching feet and walked as it was for the millionth time. The gas station has to be around here somewhere. She then dabbed the trickling blood from her knee with the thin fabric and wrapped her cardigan around it.Ĭome on now. Like a person who makes a fool out of herself, Barbara thought to herself.īarbara slipped off her cardigan from her shoulders and wiped her palms trying to take off the dirt. Isn't this a great day? This is so humiliating I feel like a clown that no one laughs at. Trickles of blood fell from her knee and tiny scraps were left on her palms. Her right foot hit a loose rock on the road, she tripped and fell onto her hands and left knee. She walked but it seemed as if the road never ended. It shouldn't be too far away now," she said aloud.īarbara's eyes kept drooping and her yawns continued to grow larger. "I'll get a granola bar if I have enough money at the gas station. She yawned and checked the pocket in her dress for any spare change. Barbara hummed her mother's song and held her flashlight out to see ahead of her. She sighed once again and continued to walk down the deserted dirt road. Barbara thought she was hearing things so she decided to let it go. Barbara stared at the old man and wondered how he knew her name. He closed his eyes and began to strum his guitar.
The old man grew weary, "Fine, do what you want Barbara. "Sir, thank you for your concern but I best be going now," Barbara said with a monotone voice. "I believe her name was Mariam or Margaret or something like that." Actually, the last person to come around here was a young lady just like you," the old man said.
No one has driven around this area for the past 3 years. I've lived here for 57 years and not once has anything been built around here. "Miss, I can guarantee you there is no gas station. "That's very kind of you but I believe there was a gas station around the corner," she continued to walk. I have a spare gas can if you need one," the old man offered. Or any other buildings in matter of fact other than my house for the next 13 miles. My car is further back on the road," Barbara explained. " No sir, I'm just heading down to the gas station to fill up my gas can. "Young lady, are you lost?" he called out to Barbara. The old man looked up with a surprised but confused expression. Barbara saw a hunched old man with gray hair sitting on the porch strumming a guitar. She passed a single house noticeable with the stars and a small lantern that hung on a thin stooped tree. Walking along the dark road she hummed a song her mother used to sing to her as a child to keep her company. With the empty gas can, flashlight, and heels in hand, she headed toward the gas station. Luckily, she knew there was a gas station somewhere down the road.īarbara sighed heavily and took off her heels then grabbed a flashlight from the trunk. As she grabbed the gas can from the inside of the trunk, Barbara noticed the container was empty. She carefully stepped out onto the empty dirt road and headed to the trunk of her car to retrieve the gas can that a close friend had recently borrowed from her. Tired and fatigued, Barbara threw open the door to her worn down Volkswagen. She let out a frustrated groan, "Ugh, I could have sworn I filled up my tank when I left work." Barbara Owens, a middle aged woman, ran out of gas on her way home from work 13 miles outside of her small town Meno, Oklahoma.