Fallout (Crank 3)

the highway. I jump out of the car,

run toward the stretcher. “Kyle!”

A cop stops me. Let the paramedics

do their job. His arm is broken, maybe

his collarbone, too. And he’s got one

giant knot on his noggin. But it looks

like he’ll be just fine. The truck

is definitely not so lucky.

We watch two tall uniforms load

Kyle into an ambulance. Then the cop—

Officer Strohmeyer—opens the passenger

door for me. Might as well sit up front.

He comes around, slips beneath

the steering wheel. Gonna take

a while to pull the truck out of there.

We’ll tow it to Bishop. The question

is, who’s missing you right now?

I’VE HAD SOME TIME

To think up an answer, so it flows easily.

“We were on our way to my grandparents’

in Carson City. My mom’s already there….”

Which may or may not be true.

But I’m pretty sure Grandma Marie and

Grandpa Scott will cover for me.

I suppose I should get in touch

with Kyle’s dad, let him know what’s up.

You better give them a call and let

them know what happened, says Officer

Strohmeyer. I’ll take you to the hospital.

You should get checked out too.