My short story-Black Vandura part one

[woodtick]

Here is a short fiction piece I wrote recently. I hope you enjoy it.


Black Vandura
The fourth of July fireworks had just finished on the intermittently stormy night in Columbus, Montana. Alex, Scott, and Lisa had been enjoying the fireworks from Scott’s hot-rod van as they drank beer and an occasional shot of Jack Daniels whiskey. Scott was ten years older than eighteen year-old Alex and he had recently been laid-off from the Stillwater mine, a platinum and palladium operation in nearby Nye. Alex had just graduated from high-school and had met Scott a few years earlier when he replied to an ad in the newspaper for a guitar amplifier. Alex was inspired by the rock band Motley Crue back in 1988 and Scott was a local musician. It didn’t take long for Alex to find a mentor in Scott, not to mention someone of age to buy alcohol, and for Scott to find someone who looked up to him. It was a fulfilling relationship for both. Lisa was a year older than Alex and had been his girlfriend since she was in the tenth grade. Alex adored Lisa. She was a beautiful young woman with her long, straight, black hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. He missed her always when they weren’t together. Lisa loved Alex in her own way but she was learning of the attention a beautiful young woman attracts in the world.
“Whooaa,� said all three.
“Looks like the power is out across the whole town,� Alex said
“Maybe they’ll light off more fireworks,� Lisa added
“I doubt it. This city is so lame we’re lucky to get what we got. Can you grab me another coolie, hon.�
Lisa reached in the refrigerator of the van and brought a cold can of beer to Alex.
“How bout you Scott? Are you ready yet?� Lisa asked.
“Yeah, grab me one too. I have a little in the bottom but it’s getting warm.�
Scott rolled down his window and poured his remaining beer on the ground then tossed the can in the trees. “My definition of alcohol abuse is dumping beer!� Scott said with an inebriated cackle. Although he was bothered his littering, Alex was impressed by Scott’s rebellion toward the justice system.
“Check out all that lumber down there!� Scott said.
The Latinen lumber company was only a quarter of a mile away on the bank of Keyser Creek.
Scott said “You know, I’ve been thinking about building a recording studio in my trailer.�
“No way dude. Don’t even think about it.� Alex said in an absolute tone.
“I don’t think that is a very good idea Scott,� Lisa added
“Yeah but it’s just sittin there out in the open. They aint gonna miss a few two by fours. The K-9 cops are probably holding flashlights for the city crew. Come on.�
In the silence that followed, Alex looked back at Lisa and saw her look of apprehension for him
“Who’s going to see us? We could just drive right over there, throw a pile in the back of the van and we’re outta here. It’ll take two seconds.�
“I don’t want to be involved with this,� Alex said. He was realizing Scott was not likely to let this opportunity slip away. Alex had two choices and had to pick one fast; he could get out of the van immediately and walk home in the rain with Lisa or sit in the van and pray they don’t get caught.
“Fine, just sit in the van and I’ll do it,� Scott said..
Scott started the van and put it in gear. Alex was thinking as fast as he could but failed to produce a solution that he liked. The van started to move. Scott made the choice for Alex. With the lights off, the van crept toward the back lot of Latinen Lumber. Alex got a growing pain in his stomach. He was being drawn into something he wanted no part of and it seemed there was nothing he could do about it.
Scott pulled the van next to a stack of 2x4’s and started loading. Alex and Lisa realized the gravity of the situation. If the police came, they would all be guilty.
“Babe, would you help him so we can just get out of here?� Lisa said.
Alex exited the van and started helping. His hands were shaking and he felt like a lesser man for his participation in the unsavory deed. After many trips to and from the lumber stack Alex declared;
“That’s enough, let’s go.�
“Just a few more,�
They loaded one last course on the pile of lumber in the van and closed the doors. Scott started the van and slowly moved toward the narrow drive leading to highway seventy-eight, the main thoroughfare through the south end of town. The narrow dirt drive is between two buildings where the peripheral view is blocked until you reach the pavement of the highway. Anxiety filled the van as they approached with the lights off. The van reached the end of the drive and they stopped to quickly looked for cars. They were now in a location where nobody should be at 11 pm with lights off, open alcohol containers, underage people in the van, in view of anybody driving on highway seventy-eight, and carrying a load of stolen lumber.
“It’s clear, go,� Alex ordered.
Scott turned the headlights on and started to pull out but the high performance van was not well suited for the idle driving they had just done. The engine was loaded up with fuel and as soon as Scott stepped on the accelerator, it flooded and died. They were now stranded with the van partially on the highway as Scott leaned on the ignition key.
“Come on, come on,� Alex pleaded
“We gotta get out of here,� Lisa said.
Alex franticly thought of options; Can’t call a tow truck. Can’t leave the van. Can’t call for help. He pictured himself grabbing Lisa and abandoning his friend on foot. Alex put his hand on the door lever, looked back at Lisa and said “We’re getting out of here.� Scott kept cranking the big v-8 engine. Just as Lisa was making her way between the front seats, the engine popped a few times and came to life with a tremendous whine and rap. The fuel ignition filled the quiet neighborhood with the sound of mischief. He slammed the van in gear and they were off.
It was a quiet trip back to Scott’s house. Alex was angry at Scott for his infinitely foolish idea and Scott was feeling betrayed by Alex. When they arrived, the rain had subsided so they unloaded the lumber from the van. There wasn’t much discussion of the night’s events. Only an occasional “here� or “I got it� as they worked. When they finished Scott brought out a round of beers hoping to break the ice. They stood in the back yard of Scott’s house, laughed off their fear together and reflected on the evening’s events.

“Man that was insane, I’ve never stolen anything in my life.� Alex said.
“I was like, waiting for someone to drive by. I can’t believe we got out of there� Lisa said in amazement.
“Now see, if you just listen to me everything will be cool.� Scott said attempting to appear as if he was completely in control the entire time.
“I’m just glad we made it out of there,� Said Alex
“Yeah, me too. That lumber will go a long way around here.� Scott said
“You could use a new porch on this old place. Time and weather have really put the hurt on that one.�
“Being laid-off should give me some time to get things fixed-up around here. I haven’t done anything with the place since I bought it about eight years ago.�
“I don’t think you’ve got enough lumber to do a studio and a porch but you’ve got a good start.�
“I know, I wish we could have fit more in the van. Maybe we should make a quick trip back before it’s too late?�
“Yeah right.� Alex said with a laugh as he noticed the serious look on Scott’s face.