The Last Ride Home

It was late and Charles was staying after school for a while, a long while in fact. He was putting together the finishing touches for his science project, one of the last projects he will ever have to do since graduation is just a few months away. Charles had special permission to stay late and he wasn't alone, the night janitorial staff was there with him, among them was Jerry.

Charles and Jerry had become good friends as this isn't the first time in his four years in highschool that Charles stayed this late. Charles didn't live far from the school, just about a mile or so, so he always walked home after he finished what he was doing. Jerry would always offer him a ride but he would always deny saying that it's not far and he doesn't mind walking.

Tonight was different though, it was dark already and Charles didn't wear his bright yellow jacket that day since he didn't think he would be this late so when Jerry offered him a ride home Charles agreed. He grabbed his bag and got into the passenger side of Jerry's car and they took off. "So where do you live?" Jerry asked.

"Just take a right up here and then left here to Grand I will tell you more when are at that point." Jerry turned out onto the one way road and then turned around on Grand heading back the other direction. After a block or so Jerry said, "Ok now your going to want to take the second left up here, it's at the stop sign at the three way stop for everyone else but us."

"Yeah I hate that," Jerry said, "No one ever stops for you, I am surprised there aren't a lot accidents in the intersection." Just then as they turned left a car went through the stop sign. Jerry laid on his horn and the car screeched to a halt. Jerry and the other driver exchanged hand gestures and went on their way, "you see just like that," Jerry said.

It was very dark and started to rain heavily making it hard to see even with the headlights on. "OK, half way down here you will see a street on the left turn down it and go right I am at the end of that street."

As they drove Jerry lost control of the car on the wet road and drove off the road into the grassy field next to them but he managed to regain control of the car and get back on the road. "Wow that was close," Jerry said

"Yeah and that made us miss the turn," Charles said, "Oh well you can turn up here a ways just don't go too far this road ends." But with the heavy rain and Jerry's windshield wipers he hasn't changed in years they couldn't see too well and they missed the next turn as well and car was sent flying over the edge.

Several minutes later Charles awoke on the side of the hill where the road ends. The rain had stopped and he was fine. He figured he must fell out of the car as it rolled down the hillside. The hill was too steep so he went back to the road and ran all the way to end where the car was. I was crashed into someone's garage and the rescue crews were already on scene. Charles watched as they took Jerry's body out of the wreckage followed by his own.

Charles was frightened, "What is this," he said, "I can't be dead, I can't be dead, I can't be dead!" He cried out repeating himself over and over again.

Just then Charles woke up on his desk in front of his project, "Hey buddy it's late and it's getting dark out do you want a ride home?" Jerry asked standing over the boy.

Charles was confused at first and looked around. It didn't take him long to realize it was just a dream. Charles agreed to take the ride home. Charles explained the route to his house and as they got to the three way stop they were almost hit by another car. It started to rain and they headed down the road and Jerry lost control and went off the road missing the next turn, everything was happening perfectly just like in his dream. "Jerry you can let me out here I can walk." Charles said.

"Are you sure buddy?" Jerry asked and Charles insisted. Jerry let out Charles and turned around and Charles headed down the road to his house. As Charles was just a block from his house a driver not paying attention and not being able to see Charles so well hit him killing him instantly. And as for Jerry, as he headed home he was struck by a tractor trailer on the freeway and died on scene.

Some say that when death has your number there is no way to escape it. Some will try and though they may evade it for a while they will never succeed. So if you hear death's call consider yourself warned?

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