Jan 1, 2010
2:30am
we're driving down the road
heading home after a new year's party at Mike and Carrie's
I'm tired
Steve's driving
the kids are sleeping
it's cold
trying to stay awake to keep Steve company
I feel the car move toward the left
I look at the speedometer
50mph
too fast
snowing
ice on the road
you're driving too fast
the car is crossing the center line
why are you in the middle of the road?
there's no ice in the middle of the road
what?
(confused)
how is there no ice in the middle of the road?
that's where all the cars drive so the snow isn't built up there
what?
(extremely confused)
the middle line is COVERED in ice
I don't like driving close to the right line
There's too much ice
okay, but you're driving on ice now
so far beyond confused I don't even know where I am
fine I'll move back over
I'm going too fast. I need to slow down
the car moves back across the center line
45mph
too fast
still too fast
I have to tell him. but I can't
he hates when I nag him about speed
the van slides
"No, no, NOOOOO! HOLD ON!"
scream
we fishtail. several times.
back and forth.
back and forth
this time, there is no back
we keep sliding, backend toward the right
we're spinning
we've crossed the centerline
we're going backwards
we're turning more
we're only on two wheels
the passenger side
my side
the ground is too close
we're going to roll
the mailboxes are too big
we're going to hit
Natania
she's closest
please, let her be okay
the mailboxes fly past the tailend of the van
they're headed for me
no, I don't want to get hurt
the snow
it's up to the window
it's not supposed to be that high
SCROOSH
silence
breathe
in.out.
we didn't flip!
we didn't hit anything?!
breathe
take off seat belt. arm sore. neck sore.
turn around
is everyone okay? Are you okay?
everyone's okay
no, Natania's arm hurts
is it bad?
it's not. just sore from being thrown against the side of the van as we spun
you'll probably have a bruise, but you'll be ok
what happened. who's hurt?
Natania. her arm hurts from being crushed against the side of the van from the centrifugal force.
why would I think of the correct terminology right now?
centrifugal? terminology? why am I using big words?
we hit ice. there was nothing I could do. I wasn't even going that fast, only 35
no you weren't, you were going at least 45
it's ok. nobody's hurt. we need to get help
call for help
AllState Roadside Assistance
no signal
Steve tries to bounce off another network
no signal
batteries on both phones are dying
call 911
not authorized to make calls from this network
WHAT?!?
we can't even make an emergency call on AT&T's network just because we aren't customers?!?
That's INSANE! RIDICULOUS!
I hate AT&T. I will NEVER be their customer
the car's still running
we need to get help
I'll stay with the kids. you go get help
let's pray first, before you go
Steve prays. he goes
he takes his phone
I keep mine, just in case
I don't know why, it's not like I can use it here. stupid AT&T
Steve walks down the road to see if he can use someone's phone
hazards on
doors locked
headlights off
praying
praying for help
praying for warmth
praying that Steve will be safe
praying that we'll be safe
Savion's sleeping
Stevie's sleeping
both gloriously oblivious to what just happened.
the girls are wide awake
and scared
mommy? i can't see daddy
he's there, in the shadow of the trees. way up there
i see him
lights!
a car's coming
stop. stop. please stop.
zoom
doesn't even slow down
please
please Heavenly Father
please send help
mommy?
Where's Daddy? He's taking a really long time
He has to walk all the way down there and then he has to try to get someone to open their door to let him use their phone. How many people do you think will be willing to open their door to a complete stranger in the middle of the night?
None
So it might take awhile
ok
I see him! I see him! He's coming back!
another car!
stop. stop. please stop.
slowing down! yes! help has arr....
zoom
I can't believe it!
slowed down just to stare!
AT LEAST USE YOUR CELL PHONE TO CALL FOR HELP!
another car from the opposite direction
why bother, they won't stop either
it's slowing down
are they . . . ?
they stopped, but no one's coming out or opening a window
there's someone coming out the passenger's side
his girlfriend doesn't like him making her stop to see if he could help
she's yelling at him to get back in the car
are the doors locked? ok
where's Steve?
there he is, he's coming back
we're safe
only put it down a little
just enough to speak through and hear from
hey, you stuck?
Uh, yeah
he's drunk
you need help?
yeah
he's definitely drunk
I'll see if I can push you out
ok
no luck
It won't move
you'll have to call a tow truck
it's wicked expensive
I just had to pay for my girlfriend to get pulled out of a ditch just up the road
really?
you got help coming?
my husband went to see if he could get help
there he is, right there
he talks to Steve
he promises to come back
he leaves
they're not coming back
no one would answer their doors
I'm not surprised
I couldn't get a T-Mobile signal over there
and my battery is completely dead
there's wi-fi over there though
I can use your phone and call over wi-fi to get help
ok
I won't be long
lock the doors
. . .
Mommy
I'm scared
I know honey. me too.
Mommy?
Yes?
did we almost die?
no honey. we didn't almost die.
we were in an accident
we're stuck in a ditch
I want you to remember that it could have been worse
we need to thank Heavenly Father that we only ended up in a ditch
it could have been way worse
how?
we could have flipped
we could have rolled
we could have hit those mailboxes
or that bush or that tree
or even that house
someone could have broken something
the boys could be awake freaking out
the car could be dead and we have no heat
the car could be dead and we have no heat
there are so many things that could have happened
Heavenly Father protected us from those things
it's not as bad as it could have been
lights!
maybe if I flash my lights at them they'll stop
they're taking a really long time to get here
one.two.three
flash. flash. flash.
stop. stop. please stop.
they slow down
they pass us
they speed up
they keep going
another.and another
no one stops
it's getting colder
the heater is not blowing out hot air
please Heavenly Father
please help us to stay warm until help arrives
more lights
a truck
slowing down
pulls up beside us
where's Steve?
there he is
he's coming back
we're safe
doors locked?
roll it down only a little
thank you so much for stopping
a lot of people passed but only one stopped to see if we needed help
thank you
yup
ya gotta shuvl?
no
an one comin tuh help ya?
I don't know
my husband walked down there to see if he could get a signal to call someone
ya needa shuvl
ya'ar in pritdeep
I gotta shuvl back ohm
all geddit and come back
help shuvlaout
ok
ya shur summun's comin?
no
my husband isn't sure if he's got enough battery to make a call or if he can get a signal, but he went to try anyway
he's coming back
that's him right there
all eight furim taggit backear an then all gogit mashuvl
they talk
Steve thanks him for stopping to help
we don't think that he'll be back
Mike's coming
I only had enough battery to make one call
it was either AllState or Mike
I knew Mike would come and he would bring his cell phone so we can call Roadside Assistance when he gets here
. . .
they guy in the truck came back
he brought a shovel
he and Steve take turns shoveling out the van
Mike arrives
he has a shovel too
Steve calls AllState again
our offices are closed for the holiday. if you require the assistance of a tow truck,
please pay for the towing and send in your receipt for a reimbursement.
thank you and have a happy new year
can we pay it?
how much is in the account?
do we have enough to cover the other bills too?
calculating.adding.subtracting.
I hope we have enough
where are we going to get a number for a tow truck?
they hook up our van to Mike's van
he tries to pull us out
Steve revs the engine to try to get traction
it doesn't work
they shovel again
try to pull some more
rev.rev.rev.rev.rev.rev.
rev.rev.rev.rev.rev.rev.
rev.rev.rev.rev.rev.rev.
rev.rev.rev.rev.rev.rev.
rev.rev.rev.rev.rev.rev.
the car dies
it's dead
no slightly-warmer-than-the-air-outside air blowing through the vents
cold
empty
defeated
breathe
in.out.
everything will be ok
please let everything be ok
please, Heavenly Father, help us get the van out before the kids get too cold
breathe
breathe
breathe
the guy with the truck leaves
he's done all that he can do
Mike and Steve are talking
people are coming out of that house over there
they look like they want to help
Mike knows them
it's the sister of Mike's friend, the one who was at Mike's house tonight
a tow truck pulls up in front of us
where did he come from?
thank You for sending him, Father
the tow truck driver said that someone called and said that there was a van on the side of the road
I guess one of the people that passed without stopping called him
it will cost about $30 for the towing
can we do it?
calculating.adding.subtracting.
brain falters
can't do simple math
calm down
breathe
go slowly
focus
calculating.adding.subtracting.
yes. we can cover that
ok
you and the kids are going to go in that house
stay there and keep warm until we're ready to go
Mike said they're nice people
you'll be safe
and warm
we take the kids to the house
he carries Stevie
I carry Savion
the girls crouch behind us
scared, unsure of these people that they don't know
it's ok
Mike knows them
he trusts them
we'll be ok
we're in the house
nice. comfortable.
safe. warm.
thank You, Heavenly Father
thank You for keeping the van running until we could get somewhere warm
thank You for having us crash in front of Mike's friend's sister's house
thank You for them being so nice to let us in their home to be warm until the car is pulled out
thank You for whoever it was that called the tow truck
please bless them all
thank You. thank You. thank You
what's going on?
why is it taking so long?
hun, we're ready to go
I have to ride in the tow truck so he knows how to get to our house
Mike will take you and the kids home
come on kids
it's time to go
thank you Mike
thank you for coming
thank Carrie for us for letting you come
...
thank you for coming and towing our van
how much do we owe you?
$79?
what happened to just $30?
can we cover that before his next pay check?
we don't have a choice. we have to pay. he already towed us.
he used Mike's AAA membership but didn't know that the winch isn't covered until after we got home
without Mike's AAA we would have to pay $200 something
we definitely CANNOT cover $200+
we just had Christmas
thank You, Heavenly Father, for the lower cost
ok. do you take checks?
who do I make it out to?
thank You, Heavenly Father, for enough money to cover our expenses
I don't know how You did it, but Your math is better than mine
thank You
thank You, Heavenly Father, for enough money to cover our expenses
I don't know how You did it, but Your math is better than mine
thank You
what are we going to do?
how are we going to get the van fixed?
how is Steve going to get to work?
it will be ok
everything will work out
it always does
He will help us
He always does
kids tucked in their beds
the boys still completely unaware of all that's happened
sleeping. peacefully.
the girls take a little longer to go to sleep
sleeping. peacefully.
Jan 1, 2010
5:32am
home.
safe.
warm.
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