The Book of Cortland (F)

Was on the road out of Hickory Grove, was on the way to Smyrna.

The road was dark, the double-bottom crossed the double yellow. The slow roll surprised me. Don't remember much. Broke my hand against the driver side glass. The car just kept rolling and rolling. 

"Mr. Bass?  Mr. Bass? Do you hear me?"  Yep, heard that. Told me later I didn't open my eyes until inside the ambulance. Bright and noisy and confusing is what it was. Loud. 

Funny how quiet leaving the road. And then don't remember much.

Deputy at the hospital taking my statement. "You missed the trees." Young guy, swallowed hard. "You lucky to be talking to me."

Yep, some kind of luck.

Those headlights nearly on me. Flashing brights. Brakes screeching.

Think I said out loud "son of a bitch". Turned the wheel. And then don't remember much.

Lucky.

So lucky, hiked from Hickory Grove to Smyrna. 

Nancy cried. "Why go back to that road? Ever?" Debbie cried. "Daddy! What? Daddy, that's crazy talk!" Stuart just shook his head and walked out the back door.

Wanted to know the road under my feet. To see what I didn't see. Trees. Lots of trees. Barns. Fields for haying. Horses. Farmhouses.

"I'm not driving you down there, Cort. Never."

"I'll drive myself and make it a round trip."

"You just got cleared to go back to work."

"Don't need my hand to walk. So all good."

"Daddy, let me go with you."

"Nope."

Call it enlightenment. Book says eyes open wide. Clarity comes. 

Saw nothing, saw everything. Faint tire marks still. No sign of where my car went in. A lot of trees. Some dogwoods blooming in the woods. Cell tower about 100 yards back.

Looked hard. Didn't remember much. 

But now at least I know.

Lyman 2024