Krista gazed out of the back of her parent’s blazer. Her parents, Mark and Teresa Hines, were
chatting up front as her dad expertly maneuvered threw the curving backroads.
“You want to see where I wrecked?” Mark asked Krista while occasionally glancing at her in the rear view mirror. Krista automatically knew what wreck he was speaking of. A wreck that she knew had been painful for all those involved those years ago. After a moment’s wonder of why he wanted to show her, Krista replied.
“Sure.” she said passively.
Mark maneuvered the cherry red blazer threw the backroads up to Marshall County and showed Teresa and Krista exactly where it was he had left the road.
Krista watched the spot closely as they drove by.
I wonder if I’ll ever have a wreck? she thought.
They continued to just ride around, going everywhere and yet nowhere special. Music beat from the radio and Krista bobbed her head to the rhythm. A slightly dull night, she thought, but not that bad.
If only she had known how exactly opposite from dull it would soon become.
The three were slowly making their way back to Paducah. Taking a turn onto Broadway
and driving down by the river. Upon starting to go down the steep incline to the river, Krista
(who was still looking out of the back window) saw police lights down in the upper part of
Broadway.
“Hey, its some cops.” she stated with a slight bored tone.
Mark and Teresa took barely any notice to the flashing lights or Krista’s comment.
Once they had left the river they headed back up to the upper part of Broadway.
“I’m gonna head down by Vacuum World and see if Mitch has done anything to the store.” Mark stated, turning the car onto a specific side street that crossed Broadway.
As they approached the red light at the end of the side street, which was also a four way cross, they spotted the ambulance and police car that Krista had seen earlier from a distance.
“I guess they had a wreck.” Krista stated, not really paying attention to the scene.
“No, thats the Irvin Cobb. They probably see this a lot with who lives there and all.” Mark said.
“I don’t know Mark. I think I see glass.” Teresa said hesitantly. Krista was sitting in dreamy trance in the back when a suddenly after Teresa’s comment her dad released a shout.
“Thats Garth!”
Krista broke out of her trance and looked for herself. Sure enough she recognized the familiar form of her grandmother’s husband. She also recognized the white car they owned sitting on the curb, ambulance next to it. Krista started to jump around chaotically in the back seat.
“Can I get out?! Please let me out! Please?! Can I get out!?” she pleaded while bouncing from door to door.
“Wait a second Krista!” Mark said patiently.
The light turned green and they went across the street. Krista jumped out once they were beside her grandmother’s car and her parents drove on down the street to park. She immediately spotted her grandmother, sitting in the backseat of the car. She was sitting door open, legs draped out of the door. Krista immediately ran over to her.
She ran to her grandmother, named Louise but also called Memaw. Louise saw Krista and seemed relived. Krista grabbed her hand. She was shaking.
“Hey Memaw. You okay?”
“Krista. Oh we had a wreck hon. The other driver...he was going the wrong way.” Louise said, voice shaking.
Krista nodded.
An E.M.T. was standing behind Krista and she now spoke up. “She not hurt, just shaken up.”
Krista nodded to the E.M.T. “She’s a sensitive person.” she said smiling. She then turned back to Louise. “Its okay Memaw. Calm down. Your all right.”
“Oh...hon, I was so worried about Mama. What would I have done if she had been hurt?” Louise said.
Krista looked over her shoulder, realizing for the first time that her great grandmother was here and obviously had been in the car. She watched her great grandmother closely for a second. She seemed fine. She was standing and chatting with a couple of the elderly residents of the Irvin Cobb.
By now her parents had arrived and were discussing things with Garth and the police. Krista was still holding Louise’s hand trying to calm her down.
Finally, Louise managed to stand up and walk around. Once she was sure her grandmother was fine, Krista looked walked around and let her curiosity take control of her. She couldn’t help but smile as she walked past her great grandmother and her dad. Her great grandmother had her arm wrapped around her dad and was talking and laughing.
Krista walked around finding out everything she could about the wreck. She even went and looked closely at the front of her grandmother’s car. As she looked down she saw two 4in. long strips of metallic colored plastics pieces which she assumed had fallen off the car in the crash.
“Well......a souvenir.” she whispered and smiled.
After picking up the 2 pieces Krista rejoined everyone and discovered it was time for them to leave. Garth, Louise, Great Grandmother Wade, Mark, Teresa, and Krista all piled into Mark’s blazer and drove off.
As they were driving away from the scene, the car was full with chatter, mostly from Louise. Krista sat in the very back rolling the plastic pieces in her hand. She for the first time realized how strange the coincidence had been. It just happened to be when a suddenly silent moment came over the car that Krista remarked with a smirk.....
“And I thought it was going to be a boring night.”
This story is completely true. Nothing has been changed to make it better or
stranger. I’m sure you realize how strange it was that we just happened to be on
that exact road, only a few minutes after the wreck, when we had been everywhere
that night.
Also there is the fact that my dad had taken us to the spot of his wreck that night....then we run into this wreck.
Shows you just how good of plans God has:)
Krista M. Hines
