Mustang Sally is the most refined lady you’ll meet. Tonight she’s in diamonds and an evening gown, but that doesn’t slow her down. She hikes up her skirt and settles down onto the bike.
“Custom?” she says.
“As custom as they get.”
She runs her hands over the fuel tank and the seat leather.
“It’s nice to know that they still do good work down below.”
“I don’t know about that anymore.”
She cocks her head at me.
“Well, you do have a way of breaking your toys.”
“What if I want to put one back together again?”
“You want to go back.”
“It’s the only way to make things right.”
She looks at me. Then the bike. Then her car.
“Want to trade? My Porsche for your bike? It would make a lovely tribute.”
She runs her gloved fingertips over the handlebars.
“Sorry, Sally. It has sentimental value. How about a ’68 Catalina fastback?”
She thinks about it for a minute.
“It’s not exactly a vintage Porsche.”
I come over and get in front of the bike. She could run me down and take it if she wanted and we both know it.
“It would make a nice second car. You can drive it to church and bingo.”
She leans back on the seat and takes off a glove. Spits in her hand. I spit in mine and we shake. She puts her glove back on.
I tell her, “But you can’t have it right away. It needs a little bodywork.”
“That’s all right. I trust you. And you always know where to find me. Now, what can I help you with?”
“I need to get back into Hell. Preferably, without dying this time.”
The first time Sally helped me get into the afterlife, the process included me splattering myself on a highway pylon. It was messy and gave me a headache.
She shakes her head.
“Sweet boy, sometimes you come to me with the silliest questions. The way to Hell—the road to everywhere—has been there for you since the day you came home.”
“Where? How?”
She puts out her hand and I help her off the bike. She takes a minute to smooth her skirt.
“I can’t help you directly, but Mr. Muninn can. Sometimes the most complicated way is the easiest.”
I look at her. Perfect hair and diamonds lit by a thousand headlights.