Veterans Memorial Highway,
Pahrump, Nevada.
1984

“Here’s the exit sweetie,” Christina Jenes says, as she steers the car right, with her daughter Lena sitting beside her in the passenger seat. Moving off Veterans Memorial Highway, Lena looks up at the expanse of the blue sky and the vast desert around her. Christina also views the surrounding desert as she smiles, glancing to her right into the far distance, where the Nevada Nuclear Weapon test ranges used to be.
“Wouldn't it be cool if we saw a Nuke go off over there…” She says, as Lena turns to her right side, also smiling. “...and we are just driving leisurely by…” Reaching forward with her left hand, whilst still driving onward. “...Let’s put on some tunes…” She pushes a cassette into its slot, as a song is played on the car speakers. “...Oh, I love this track…”
Christina, begins singing along with the chorus.
“...A walk in the park, a step in the dark
A walk in the park, a trip in the dark
I'm getting away escaping today…”
Looking ahead, trying to see if a town is nearby. Thinking about doing a line of coke, aware that her handbag is tucked under her seat. Hoping that a Roadhouse will be nearing soon. She looks briefly at her daughter.
“...You want something to eat?”
Lena nods. “A hamburger”
“Hamburger?…” Peering ahead, all Christina sees is more desert. “...Me too! With lots of mayonnaise, tomato and a fat juicy piece of meat in the middle…” And I’ll do some blow in the toilets. Christina thinks to herself. With her left hand she reaches across and gently brushes Lean’s hair back. “...Do we share?”
Lena shakes her head from side to side. “Nope, all mine. And I want some chips.”
Christina starts laughing, as she hears a clicking noise emanating from the car engine.
“That doesn’t sound good...” She remarks, slowing down, she pulls over to the side of the road. “...Better check…” Turning off the ignition, opening the door, as Lena watches her mother walk around to the front of the car. Pulling up the hood, Christina walks back to her driver’s side, leaning across to the dashboard. “...I have no idea what I’m looking at…” Referring to the car engine. “...I’ll turn on the ignition, see what happens.” The engine begins to make a grinding sound. “...That does not sound good at all!..” She says, looking at Lena who is still strapped into her seat. Christina looks around at the expanse of the Nevada desert, she then eyes her handbag under the drivers seat. Reaching down, she lifts the bag. “...I’ll check the engine again,” she says, walking back around to the open bonnet, out of view of her daughter. Reaching into her bag, she takes out her hand mirror and a small vial of cocaine, quickly placing the white power across the mirror, pinching her right nostril with her index finger, she inhales the crudely spread line of coke. Quickly checking her reflection in the mirror, ensuring that her nostrils are clear of residual powder. She hastily places the mirror and vial back into her handbag. Closing the hood, she quickly walks back to the drivers seat, and sits down.
“...Some music? I think the battery still works…” Turning the key so the car battery activates. “...Yes!...” The song that was playing earlier begins. She starts singing along again.
“...A walk in the park.
Away from all
The busy streets of my mind.
I seek a straighter path.
I seek a shady clay in which to unwind.
But why do we go on.
In spite of mistakes.
In spite of destruction.
Life can be fun
Depending on the situation…”
Lena remains quite, staring ahead envisioning a thermonuclear detonation in the distance. She then views a truck approaching. Looking at her mother who has her eyes closed, swaying from side to side whilst singing out loud.
“...A walk in the park, a step in the dark.
A walk in the park, a trip in the dark.
I`m getting away, escaping today…”
“Mom…” Lena places her hand onto her mother’s left shoulder. “...Mom!” Her mother turns and looks at her in a startled manner.
“What?”
“There’s a truck coming, this way,” Lena says, pointing with her left index finger into the distance.
Leaning forward, she kisses Lena’s forehead. “Such good eyes my darling.” Stepping out of the car, she stands at the edge of the road, waving her arms around. The truck begins to slow down, edging closer to where Christina has her car parked.
The male driver pulls down the window.
“Your car broke down?”

___

Reading: "Manifest the Antithetic" from COVEAL OF THE HEDONIC (A.Glass 2025)

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