The Mind's Eye

“I still don’t see why I couldn’t have stayed with Kevin. His parents are going to be there. And Dad, you said I could.”

“I said that I’d talk it over with your mother, Kyle.”

The sky was filled with dark clouds and it was thundering. It was probably going to rain all weekend. Stupid family reunion.

“But you thought it was a good idea, didn’t you? Otherwise, you would’ve just said no.” Although when my mom really wanted something, there wasn’t much anyone could say or do to change her mind.

She gave my dad an “I told you so” glare, before turning around to look at me from the front passenger seat with the “you’re testing my patience” look. We’d been driving for an hour and a half, and I knew there wasn’t anything I could do or say to change her mind.

She was heartless.

I looked out the window and watched the endless rows of trees as we drove by. My dad had decided to take the scenic route. But believe me, if you’ve seen one tree, you’ve seen them all. And it did nothing to get my mind off the party I was going to miss by coming on this stupid trip.

Besides, Sara was going to be at the party. She was my best friend, next to my cousin Janet, and we’d hung out together since she’d moved into the neighborhood. She was the best goalie our team had for the town soccer league and she played a mean game of basketball.

But things were different now. She had changed. She still had flaming red hair and freckles, but they didn’t look so bad on her anymore. And a while back, her clothes had started clinging to her in ways that made it hard to look away.

I noticed that other guys were looking at her too. Like Spence. He was the captain of the football team and never hard up for a date. Not like me who was a nervous wreck over the whole dating process. But I was determined to get to Sara before Spence even had the chance to ask her out. And the party was the perfect place.

I had it all planned out, even practiced what I’d do and say every night for a week in my room after my mom and dad had gone to bed. First, I would get her a drink—she liked root beer schnapps—then I’d take her hand and lead her out back to sit on the big swing in Kevin’s back yard. We could talk there because most everyone would be in the house. Kevin had a game room with a pool table and air hockey and anything else you could probably think of. He even had a ping-pong table. The only problem would be getting Sara away from the air hockey.

She seriously loved air hockey. But I’d do it, somehow. Then we’d talk. Just small talk, not about anything too serious. I’d bring up a couple of people who’d just started dating and then maybe suggest that the two of us should go out on a real date. With each other. I’d know by her reaction if she’d consider going out with me or if she’d laugh at the idea. If she laughed, I could say that I was joking the whole time.

But then my mom had to go and mess everything up.

“It’s not like there won’t be other parties,” my mom said, scanning the stations on the radio. She was probably trying to find a song I’d like in order to shut me up. She didn’t care about my social life. At least when I turned eighteen, I would be able to make my own decisions. But that was two long years away. Who knew how many parties my parents would make me miss until then?

While my mom was busy with the radio, I moved the seatbelt’s shoulder strap over my head, leaving only the belt at my waist attached, and leaned against the door. We would be driving for another couple of hours, so I might as well get comfortable.

“I’m sorry, Kyle. I really am. I know I’m the bad guy right now, but family comes first.” She turned up the volume on a song that used to be one of my favorites. “Look on the bright side, Janet will be there.”

Not that I’d admit it to my parents, but I looked forward to seeing Janet. I just wasn’t ready to let go of my bad mood.

I pulled out my MP3 player, stuck earphones in my ears, and tried to tune out the world. My mom glanced back at me and sighed. Like she hadn’t had a choice in making me come on this trip. Not that it mattered. Not anymore. For the rest of the trip, and for my own sanity, I vowed not to think about the party or Sara or how my life sucked. I closed my eyes to listen to my favorite song, the one my mom had skipped over on the radio, and let myself drift off.

There was another clap of thunder, this one so loud I heard it through the earphones and music. Then the car jerked violently, and I was forced hard against the door. I could hear the sound of screeching tires, and it felt like the car was spinning out of control. I couldn’t move. We came to a sudden stop. My heart raced. Leaning forward, I tried to see what was happening, to make sure that my mom and dad were all right, but all I could see was a flash of something blue as it slammed against my side of the car. My mom screamed, and we were moving again—sideways this time—the sound of metal on asphalt screeched like nails on a chalkboard except much louder. I could imagine the sparks that it was making.

Then everything stopped.

I groaned, shutting my eyes at the pounding in my head and the car’s too loud horn blowing nonstop. And there was something wet dripping down the side of my face, tickling a little as it rolled down my cheeks. I tried to sit up, but that sent a flare of pain through my head and down my chest, making it hard to breathe.

I called for my mom. It came out sounding like something wet and gurgling deep in my throat. Then I remembered her screaming. I tried to move again, but my whole body felt heavy and sore and would someone please stop that stupid horn from blowing.

I shivered, suddenly cold and so tired it was getting harder and harder to keep my eyes open. I wished my mom had thought to bring a pillow and blanket like she used to on these road trips so I could nap. Yeah, a nap. That had always made me feel better. I closed my eyes. All I needed was a nap.