OldTroubador's blog post - A Night on the Highway

She was hurrying home, been a few days out of town
Driving through the night, the sun long since down
Her baby boy slept beside her, secure in his seat
A few miles left to go until she would pull onto her street
Then a rear tire let go with a noise that surprised her
She gathered it up and stopped on the shoulder.

He was driving the night shift, like he had for years
Drinking cold coffee and shuffling gears
He was thinking again of a woman, her brown hair soft and long
He still thought of the hurt and how it had gone all wrong.
The last fight, strong words and the tears as he left her behind
He still loved his driving, but now and always she preyed on his mind.

He saw the car on the shoulder of the old four lane road
Going past, saw the woman, “aw to hell with this load”
He eased off on the shoulder, backed up to the car and
Kneeling down at the window said “lady I’ll give you a hand”
He went back to his truck for some tools and some stuff
He had some spare time on his schedule; he hoped it was enough.

He said “Here’s a water for you and a juice for your son.
Pop the trunk please, the sooner I get started, the quicker I’ll be done.”
When all was finished, she mentioned a truck stop and said “Follow Me
You can come in and relax, I’ll buy you some coffee”
He thought of his thermos, the black liquid gone cold
“Yeah, I’ll sit for a spell, I could use some fresh joe.”

He watched as she talked, thought her full of charm and of grace
She watched as he listened, saw a small smile crease his tanned, leathered face.
He put on his hat, stood, then threw down some bills
“I got this round’ he said, “next time you will”
She stood silently watching as the taillights disappeared in the night
Wondering if she’d see him again, praying he’d be all right.
He hit the road trying again to drive away from that old lonely hurt
This battered knight of the highway in faded jeans and t-shirt.