|
|
Just Passing Through
By CJ Heck
Last edited: Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006
|
|
|
|
Flash Fiction ...
Just Passing Through
A Short Story by CJ Heck
People who know me know I’m well-grounded. I’m practical, fairly logical, painfully honest, and I don’t believe in love at first sight. Heck, I even wrote a whole poem about it. I do, however, believe in something at first sight -- wait, I’ll tell you what happened. You decide.
It’s curious, what a memory can call up from the recesses of your mind. A certain smell, a taste, even a sound you heard long ago can be recalled, almost relived, as though it happened only minutes ago.
There’s a day that lingers softly in my mind … I can still taste the gritty dust blowing hot across my face on a sweltering summer’s day. I can still hear the ding-ding-ding at the old fashioned red and white gas pumps as someone filled their tank -- and I can even still smell the mingled aromas of the diesel and gas.
As I recall, it was August, the dog days of summer, and it was stinking hot. I was on a road trip to nowhere in particular, just going from here to there and taking a few days in which to do it. I had stopped for gas and a cold drink at a truck stop somewhere in Oklahoma along a two-lane road. I remember the hot wind blowing dust, and it was gritty, and it covered everything.
Not ready to get back inside the steamy car, I sat on a large rock under the only tree I saw within miles, savoring the ice cold soda and wiping the sweat and grime from my face and neck with a wet paper towel from the ladies room.
I remember looking up and seeing a man, a perfect stranger. He had gotten out of a beat up old blue pickup parked at the side of the road and he was walking straight toward me. Even now, I’m not sure why I was so mesmerized by the sight of him, but I was. I can still picture him walking -- he was in run-down leather boots and the wind was ruffling up his sandy blond hair. When he got closer, I saw a tanned roadmap of lines in his face and he was squinting at me through the most extraordinary ice-blue eyes I had ever seen.
When he caught me staring, he touched a finger to the hat which was cocked rakishly to one side and he threw me a wink, a quick nod and then a crooked smile. “Ma’am.” That’s all he said, but that was enough. I had heard the drawl. I only hope my mouth was closed ...
He was wiry and tall, and his long legs moved him along in a slow, bowlegged stride that literally reinvented the swaggered strut. It was pure poetry. I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but as he passed by, my eyes were drawn to the back of the tight, worn blue jeans and the perfect butt that filled them.
It wasn’t that he was Marlboro Man handsome. What he had was a rugged muscular look, a look that spoke of riding sweaty horses, squinting into the sun all day and sleeping out under the wide bowl of stars at night. It was all of that, and him so perfectly packaged in those tight worn jeans and blue plaid shirt with the little pearl snaps and rolled up sleeves.
I’ll tell you my emotions ran high that afternoon. Maybe it was from my love of westerns as a child that it hit me like this, I don't know -- and the only thing that ever passed between us was a wink, a nod, and a crooked smile. But I’ll never forget that day. The day when I fell in … not love, but definitely something … by the side of the road with a perfect stranger, a man I never met -- someone just passing through.
The End.
|
| Web
Site: CJ Heck, Author Website
|
|
|
|
Reader Reviews for
"Just Passing Through"
|
|
|
Want to review or comment on this
short story?
Click here to login!
Need a FREE Membership?
Click here to Join!
|
| Reviewed by Michelle Close Mills |
5/22/2009 |
|
| That was enough to make ME hot just thinking about the ice blue eyes and the tight butt...well written CJ!! Encore! Love, Michelle |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Amy Sellers |
4/8/2007 |
|
| CJ, you are such an INCREDIBLE writer... so many different styles! This one kept me mezmorized! As a lover of horses, western collectibles and country songs I can DEFINITELY see how you were mesmorized by this man... where was the place did you say you were at again?! (he, he, he) Thanks for the great story! Amy S |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Randall Barfield |
2/14/2007 |
|
| i hadn't seen this. really good writing. at first, i didn't know a female was narrating although you say "people who know me..." (i'm a bit dense, no fault of my own). then i thought it was going to be the real M Man, the "actor" in other words. anyway, great read. thanks a lot |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Guy Hogan |
1/18/2007 |
|
| Is this a story? Is it poetry? It doesn't matter. It is a significant moment beautifully captured in words on paper. I guess that makes it "art." And that's sayin' somethin'. |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Art Sun |
11/29/2006 |
|
Nice work on this small and yet large picture of a small and yet huge moment...very nice...
Art Sun..... |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Kimmy Van Kooten |
11/27/2006 |
|
Damn girl...this is good!
Like they say...'We'll have days like these..." Oh yes...
LOL
Love and Peace~
Kimmy~ |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Jackie (Micke) Jinks |
10/23/2006 |
|
What was the name of that town you stopped in? LOL Must say, whatever that *something* was, I think I caught it when reading this wonderfully descriptive story! :o)
Hmmmm..."perfect ass in tight jeans" - great title for a CW song, methinks.
Micke |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Tinka Boukes |
10/23/2006 |
|
Thanks for sharing CJ!!
Love Tinka |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado |
10/23/2006 |
|
CJ,
This was wonderfully done; I enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing; very well done! BRAVA!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :D |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Dove JoAnne Cromp (Reader) |
10/22/2006 |
|
This was precious..Thank you CJ for writing and posting this..
Love & Peace,
Dove |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Debra Kraft |
10/22/2006 |
|
oh ... my. <ahem> I would have fallen, too; believe me! Perfect description; the smell of fuel, the salty taste of sweat, the cool, wet towel... You took me there to that place for that instant. I do love your writing style. And <ahem> I wouldn't mind passing a bit more time with that swaggered strut!
-Deb |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Brett Moore |
10/22/2006 |
|
| Ideal flash fiction piece, CJ. Simple and mysterious. |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Rusty Daily |
10/22/2006 |
|
Boy, wouldn't this great, in like chapter four of a little essay book. Doncha think. As always, your easy style comes through helping the readers to smell the gas and diesel.
Wink and grin Hugs
Rusty |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Peter Paton |
10/22/2006 |
|
CJ
Life can be like that..and some chance encounters can leave an indelible mark in our memories.
Reminds me of that terrific Noel Coward's film " Brief Encounter "..
with Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson..
God Bless
Peter |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Robert Blackwell |
10/22/2006 |
|
| This is very well-written and easy to read. Beautiful job, CJ. |
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Felix Perry |
10/22/2006 |
|
Good write CJ open and honest and the imagery and use of smells and visuals brought us all out there to see your story unfold.
Fee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share
Print
Save