14 Chapter 14: Carol of the bells, part 2
The snow fell hard and the wipers on Henry's car could barely keep up.Merging onto the main road from the off-ramp, Henry drove right through the yield sign but luckily for him, there were no cars in the lane.Up ahead, he could see the glow of red lights piercing through the blizzard.A stoplight.He pressed his foot against the break peddle and his car slid on the ice and snow.Henry gripped the wheel and his heart raced while he tried to gain control of his vehicle.Suddenly, two red tail lights lit up the fog and the wipers cleared enough snow from the windshield for Henry to see what was just in front him.A tractor-trailer carrying a wide load of steel construction beams had stopped at the traffic light.One of beams smashed through the car's windshield as the front of Henry's car slid under the load and crashed into the back of the truck.The beam continued through the glass and in an instant, ripped through Henry's face, crushing his nose and forcing it and the rest of his skull against the leather headrest.The foam from the headrest exploded with bits of Henry, spraying the backseat with human and Detroit shrapnel.The airbag launched out of the steering wheel and compressed against his headless body, still strapped into the seat.Henry's fingers slowly slid off the wheel.His favorite song still rang out from the radio.
On, on they send, on without end
Their joyful tone to every home.
Emergency vehicles quickly took over the scene and any passing traffic, few and far between in the storm, were forced to one lane.A white minivan approached and slowed as it passed the carnage.The driver quickly glancing toward the passenger window but unable to see all that happened or who it happened to.As she drove away, the flashing lights from the ambulance reflected on the large yellow bag of dog food in the backseat.
Ding dong ding dong-
Dumm-
Barry Lake, Part 1
Barry Lake was a staple aboard the Heaven on the Seas.He reclined back in his lounge chair by the pool on the Lido deck.His brown freckles appeared painted on his tanned and leather sun-dried skin.The longer he soaked up the sun, the more his tiny island of brown pigmentations merged into continents.
An avid adventurer ever since his navy days in Honolulu, Barry enjoyed seeing the world and all of the wonders it held.More of a sea man than a sky guy, Barry preferred to travel via water vessel rather than a metal tube with wings that, to him, miraculously maintained altitude without falling from the sky.He had been on two flights his entire life- one to the navy base and one back to the mainland when his tour of duty came to completion.
In his early twenties, Barry tried to enjoy civilian life on dry land but the sea always called to him.A few years later, after dodging the marriage bullet to a woman who ended up being the harlot of the Globe Trailer Park of eastern Idaho, he inherited a large sum of money from his parents when they passed away suddenly after losing a dog fight with a speeding train.Take note kids, when the railroad crossing gates come down, it doesn't mean that one more car can squeeze through.The CSX operated engine turned the wood-paneled station wagon into a twisted mess of metal and dazzling fireworks as it pushed the inhabited vehicle down the tracks.The remains of Barry's parents twisted and shredded in the wreck were a mess but fortunately for him, their will was squeaky clean.
Never having to lift a finger for himself or punch the average-Joe time clock day in and day out, Barry set out to explore the world, via cruise ship of course.The captain, pilot, navigator and all important bar-host, took him on many Sex-on-the-Beach adventures from cruising across the Atlantic Ocean to visiting ports in Istanbul, Rome, Florence and Sicily to navigating their way to the northern shores of Norway and the Arctic Circle.Wherever the ship went, Barry went.Money truly made the world go round and Barry found himself a permanent home on the Verandah deck.
His spacious suite included a large deck, big enough for a table and chairs to accommodate dinner for six, a living room area with a large flat-screen television, couch, and wet bar.The bedroom contained a large king-sized bed with an unobstructed view of the water and the en suite master bathroom included a garden tub, shower and double vanity sink, almost twice the size of the second bathroom just off the living room.The cabin number on the door, 7614, was replaced with a plaque that read "Lake Residence". With daily housekeeping and evening turn-down service including two chocolates on his pillow, Barry truly led a life of luxury.Cleaning latrines in the tropical heat and taking orders from an overly-assertive sergeant who obviously compensated for a large forehead and tiny penis, Barry was light years away from anywhere he or anyone else thought he would ever be.So long Angie, the mobile home hussy of the Wild West, this man was set to live the high life.
Even though it was nearly impossible for his fortune to run out, Barry was a recluse, only speaking to the captain and a few members of the crew.His best friend, if you could call her that, was a bar server named Chloe who knew when and how to serve him his daily dose of vodka.A Bloody Mary, extra ice and extra bloody with a freshly-washed celery stalk and kabob of chilled shrimp at 9am.This was followed later by a Chocolate Monkey- vodka, chocolate, banana and fresh mint blended smooth with ice in a tall glass at 2pm and then a vodka with an olive on the rocks before and after his evening meal.Barry quickly learned that too much liquor on any given day was not a good thing, especially when his days were spent soaking in the sun in the northern or southern hemispheres.Chloe ensured that he had plenty of fluids.With every cocktail came a large glass of water- extra ice.
