One Hour to Live

by Gary M. Chesla

  When Kevin let go of her, Lisa opened her eyes and looked at Kevin.

  “Can I assume that was a yes,” she asked. “Or are you just playing with me?”

  Kevin couldn’t believe the look in her eyes. She was serious. She really didn’t know.

  The look in her eyes, the look of innocence, but also the look of a girl that was as ornery as hell, told Kevin that this was his old Lisa.

  “Yes,” he whispered as he looked at her. “I haven’t been able to think of anything else since I saw you yesterday at my dad’s house.”

  Lisa’s face lit up as she smiled at Kevin.

  “Want to skip the carnival?” she grinned.

  “Yes, I do, but we’re not going to skip the carnival,” Kevin replied.

  “Why not?” Lisa protested.

  “Because I’m not going to lie to your dad. We told him we were going to the carnival so we are going to go to the carnival,” Kevin smiled. “Besides we need to get me a cell phone.”

  “OK,” Lisa replied.

  “After we get a cell phone and then go to the carnival and ride the Ferris-wheel one time,” Kevin grinned, “I know this little place we could go for the rest of the afternoon.”

  “Is it pink?” Lisa smiled.

  “Yes, it’s pink, at least I don’t think they’ve painted the building another color,” Kevin smiled. “I haven’t been there for going on two years now.

  “I don’t care what color it is now,” Lisa said. “It will always be pink to me. I never used to like pink until you took me there, now it’s my favorite color too.”

  Kevin looked worried for a second.

  “I hope that guy that used to let us use a room for free still works there,” Kevin said. “I’m not sure I have enough money with me if we have to pay for a room.”

  “I have some money,” Lisa smiled. “Let’s go get that cell phone.”

  Chapter 7

  September, One year ago

  Bob was sitting on his back porch drinking a beer.

  He turned to look at the corner of the house when he heard a shuffling sound coming from that direction.

  A moment later, he saw Bill limping around the corner of the house.

  “It’s only you,” Bob grinned, “I thought a herd of buffalo was running through my yard.”

  “Have you been listening to your radio?” Bill asked sounding serious.

  “Hell no,” Bob replied. “I stopped listening to that contraption months ago. Grab yourself a beer and have a seat.”

  “Don’t mind if I do,” Bill replied. “Is it cold?”

  Bob looked at Bill.

  “Would it matter?” Bob asked.

  “No,” Bill laughed.

  “Then don’t ask stupid questions,” Bob snorted.

  Bill grabbed a can of cold Iron City from the six pack that sat on the table and popped the tab.

  “I stopped listening to the damn radio a while back,” Bob continued. “There isn’t anything but a bunch of crybabies on the radio any more. There is always someone bellyaching about they don’t have this or that, or when is the government going to do more for them. They are complaining because some guy insists it’s his right to use the ladies room or some woman wants to use the men’s room. My God, what’s the world coming too. Let them come and live in Bolivar for a month, then they will have something important to bitch about.”

  Bill finished off his can of beer.

  “Mind if I have another beer?” Bill asked.

  “Help yourself,” Bob replied.

  “Can I borrow your radio for an hour if you’re not using it,” Bill asked. “I was in the middle of listening to the news and I think my radio broke.”

  “It’s inside the door on the counter,” Bob replied. “But what’s so damn important that you don’t want to miss. Are we going to have to make our bathrooms handicap accessible or the government is going to padlock my damn toilet?”

  Bill chuckled, “Nothing like that. I was listening to ESPN talking about the Penguins and the next thing I knew, some emergency broadcast came over the air. Then someone started talking about how we should stay in our homes. Something about riots in Philadelphia that had now spread to Pittsburgh.”

  “I think they should just shoot all those damn trouble makers,” Bob growled. “What caused the riots this time? Welfare checks issued a day late? Some cop stop a robber who was taking something he was entitled to? Did some teacher discipline a kid that called him an asshole for not giving him an A. When I grew up you only got what you worked for and entitled was only a word in the dictionary.”

  “I don’t know what the hell started things this time,” Bill replied. “Just as the reporter started to explain, my radio turned to static.”

  “So, you want to find out what nonsense started this one?” Bob asked.

  “Hell no, who cares,” Bill grinned. “I wanted to hear who the Penguins were starting in goal tonight. I have five bucks riding on tonight’s game.”

  “Go ahead and grab it,” Bob said.

  Bill limped over to the door and reached inside and pulled out Bob’s transistor radio.

  “This antique is older than mine,” Bill said, “Are there batteries in it?”

  Bob shrugged as he took another drink of his beer.

  Bill turned the radio on.

  “I think your batteries are dead,” Bill said.

  “See that little wheel on the right side of the radio,” Bob said, “turn that wheel and see if anything happens, that’s the volume control.”

  Bill put his finger on the wheel and started turning.

  A loud static sound started blasting out the speaker.

  “Turn to a station,” Bob growled, “that shit hurts my ears.”

  “I’m trying,” Bill replied as he grabbed the knob on the front of the radio and twisted it back and forth.

  “Give me that damn thing,” Bob shouted, “This is why you shouldn’t drink and listen to the radio.”

  Bill pushed the radio at Bob, “The damn thing is broke.”

  Bob took the radio and after turning a few knobs, he turned it off and tossed it on the table in front of him.

  “It’s broke, just like mine,” Bill said.

  “I don’t think it’s broke,” Bob said, “It sounds like all the stations are off the air.”

  “Why would all the stations be down,” Bill asked. “I could see if only one station was off the air, but not all of them.”

  “How the hell would I know,” Bob answered. “I’m not an engineer or whatever kind of person runs radio stations.”

  “Maybe it’s a meteor or something in the atmosphere that is disrupting the radio waves.” Bill said.

  “I think something like the government shut them all down for offending the rioters by telling them to go home and not break anything. The ACLU probably sued because the stations hurt the rioter’s feelings. That sounds more likely than a meteor,” Bob scoffed.

  “What the hell difference does it make, I guess not much,” Bill laughed.

  “As long as they riot in Pittsburgh and stay out of Bolivar,” Bob laughed. “It’s their problem, not mine.”

  “I hope they don’t riot for too long,” Bill said seriously.

  “Who gives a shit?” Bob asked.

  “They brew Iron City beer in Pittsburgh,” Bill replied.

  Bob laughed, “In that case I hope they riot for a month. Maybe we can start drinking a decent beer for a change.”

  Chapter 8

  September, One year ago

  Kevin stood, walked over and pulled the curtains away from the window and looked outside.

  He almost laughed to himself as he looked at the ugly pink flamingo mounted on a pole fifty feet in the air.

  Under the faded pink bird was a sign that said, The Pink Flamingo Motel.

  The sign, the bird and the entire motel could have all stood to have a new coat of paint.

  They were all a faded shade of pink.

  It almost looked like
the motel belonged in Bolivar.

  But fortunately, the motel wasn’t in Bolivar, it was on a lonely country road ten miles outside of Bolivar. Near Route 22.

  Two years ago, when Lisa whispered something into Kevin’s ear one afternoon, something that required him to quickly find a room, he called a guy, Mike, that had been on his softball team.

  Mike worked at the Pink Flamingo.

  Mike agreed to let Kevin and Lisa use unit 10, at the end of the long concrete building. He told them they could use the room whenever they wanted, so long as it was vacant.

  The only other condition was that they change the sheets and towels before they left.

  Near the end of the summer, Lisa joked that instead of going to college, she should maybe get a job working in a motel. After all she had earned a PhD in changing beds.

  The motel was free and a safe distance from Bolivar. A place where their adventures wouldn’t be discovered.

  The rooms were dull and dingy, but it didn’t matter.

  Kevin, Lisa and the Pink Motel spent a lot of time together that summer.

  Fortunately, Mike still worked for the Motel and greeted them with a big smile when they walked into the Lobby earlier today.

  Kevin turned when he heard the bathroom door open.

  He couldn’t help but smile as Lisa came walking out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but a towel on her head and a smile on her face.

  Kevin looked at Lisa and shook his head.

  “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” he smiled, “we were supposed to go to the carnival first and then we would come here.”

  Lisa smiled, walked over and gave Kevin a kiss.

  “We did get you a cell phone first.”

  “Yeah, a pink one,” Kevin laughed. “I don’t know why I let you talk me into these things.”

  Lisa snuggled up to Kevin and looked up at him and giggled, “It’s a mystery to me.”

  “Like hell it is,” Kevin grinned.

  “Are you complaining?” Lisa smiled.

  “Never in a million years,” Kevin said as he squeezed Lisa’s butt, “But I need you to get dressed so we can go to the carnival. There is no way I can stand in front of your dad and tell him we went to the carnival without him knowing that I’m lying. I’d feel guilty.”

  “Maybe you won’t feel as guilty when you have pants on,” Lisa laughed, “But for me, I prefer the guilty look.”

  “Be serious,” Kevin said.

  “Oh, I’m very serious about that,” Lisa laughed again.

  “I’m talking about the carnival,” Kevin sighed.

  “We have a lot of time to go to the carnival, the carnival runs until 10:00 tonight. You worry too much,” Lisa said and looked up, giving Kevin her doe eyed look. “I don’t want to go yet. I want to stay here.”

  “We can come back here tomorrow,” Kevin said.

  Lisa continued to stare up at Kevin, “Please.”

  “I think you’re trying to kill me,” Kevin grinned, “so you can get my pink cell phone.”

  Lisa smiled, took him by the hand and led him back towards the bed.

  9:00 PM

  Kevin picked up the sheets, towels and the room key.

  “I’ll take these up to Mike and be right back. We should still be able to make it to the carnival and ride the Ferris-wheel before they close,” he said. “You wait here until I come back and we can go to the car.”

  “Don’t forget to make our reservations for tomorrow,” Lisa smiled, “Since we don’t have to buy another cell phone tomorrow, we can come earlier.”

  “I’ll ask Mike how early we can show up without getting him in trouble,” Kevin said and closed the door.

  Kevin returned ten minutes later.

  He tapped on the door and waited for Lisa to open the door to let him in.

  “Ready to go?” Kevin asked.

  “I guess so,” Lisa replied, “But I can’t find my underwear. I’m thinking they might have gotten rolled up with the sheets or towels.”

  “Do you want me to go back down to the office and check?” Kevin asked.

  “No, that’s OK,” Lisa replied, “Maybe we’ll find them when we come back tomorrow. I don’t like wearing underwear anyhow.”

  “Just be careful that you don’t split your pants,” Kevin smiled.

  They stepped out of the room. Kevin took one quick last look around before he closed the door.

  He took Lisa’s hand and started around the building to where he had parked the Subaru behind the building.

  “What did Mike say about tomorrow?” Lisa asked.

  “When I told him we would probably be back every day this week, he lit up like a spot light. I swear I’ve never seen him look so happy,” Kevin replied.

  “Maybe tomorrow we should check for a camera,” Lisa laughed.

  “That’s what I was thinking,” Kevin grinned. “If we find a camera, I’m going to ask him if he will give us a copy. Today would make one hell of a movie.”

  Lisa jabbed Kevin in the ribs, “You don’t need a movie. You have me!”

  “I need something to remind me of you when you’re up in Boston and I’m by myself in Indiana,” Kevin replied.

  “That’s what your pink cell phone is for,” Lisa laughed.

  “I will certainly be thinking of you every time I use that damn thing,” Kevin sighed.

  “That little pink thing might surprise you,” Lisa grinned.

  Kevin stopped and stood in front of Lisa, “I know that look. What did you do?”

  “I’m not telling,” Lisa smiled and looked up at Kevin with that ornery grin all over her face.

  “Lisa?,” Kevin said.

  Lisa giggled, “It’s a surprise. I’ll call you tonight after we get home and I’ll tell you then.”

  “Promise,” Kevin said.

  “Absolutely,” Lisa laughed. “We better get going if we are going to make it to the carnival before it closes.”

  “Now you want to go to the carnival,” Kevin said. “Shit, now I know I’m in trouble.”

  “Don’t make me laugh,” Lisa giggled, “I might split my pants. That would be embarrassing.”

  “Uh huh,” Kevin said as he looked at Lisa suspiciously, “Come on, but just so you know, I’m going to keep my eyes on you.”

  “It seems to me that’s what got you into all of this,” Lisa smiled. She leaned up and kissed him. “And I am very grateful that you did. Don’t worry, I think you are going to love my surprise.”

  They walked back around the building to the car.

  Kevin unlocked the door and helped Lisa get inside.

  He got in the driver’s door and started the engine.

  “It’s getting dark,” Kevin said as he turned on the headlights. “I hope the lights work, I don’t think I’ve driven this thing at night before.”

  As the lights lit up the back of the motel, Lisa asked, “How’s the radio?”

  “It works fine,” Kevin replied. “Turn it on and push the third button. I have it set to WDVE, my favorite station.”

  “I remember that station,” Lisa said, “You and I used to listen to that station all the time before.”

  “It’s not what it used to be,” Kevin said as he pulled out on to the road. “It’s almost an oldies station now, but I can’t find anything else that I like any better.”

  Lisa turned on the radio and started pushing buttons.

  “I’m not getting anything but static,” Lisa said.

  “That’s strange,” Kevin replied. “Maybe we are in a dead zone or something.”

  “I’ll turn it off and try again later,” Lisa said. “In the meantime, I’ll sing for you.”

  “Please,” Kevin joked. “Not that.”

  Lisa reached over and pinched Kevin’s leg.

  “Ouch!” Kevin yelled and jerked the steering wheel, causing the car to veer into the left lane. He quickly jerked the wheel, bringing the car back to the right-hand lane. “Don’t pinch me while I’m drivin
g.”

  No sooner had Kevin spoke, Lisa screamed as something hit the front of the car, bouncing over the hood, off the windshield and flew over top of the car.

  Kevin jammed on the brakes and stopped the car in the middle of the road.

  “Kevin, I think we hit something?”

  “Did you see what it was?” he asked.

  “No, I was looking at you and didn’t see anything, Lisa replied. “What do you think it could have been?”

  “I don’t know, at night like this it was probably some animal,” Kevin said.

  “What if we hit a person?” Lisa asked.

  “It couldn’t be a person,” Kevin replied, “At least I hope not.”

  Kevin and Lisa sat in the car and stared out through the windshield, as his hands nervously tapped on the top of the steering wheel.

  “I think that’s blood on the windshield,” Kevin said as he looked out into the headlight beams that lit up the road for a hundred feet in front of the car.

  “We should get out and see if it was a person, maybe they need help?” Lisa suggested.

  “It’s too dark to see out there,” Kevin replied. “If it’s an animal and it’s hurt, it could be dangerous.”

  “Do you have a flashlight?” Lisa asked.

  “No,” Kevin answered. “I’m going to have to turn the car around and see what I can see with the headlights.”