"You have to go slower Debby". Maria voiced, looking up from the book she was reading as Debby hit a pothole.
They've been traveling for hours now in the rain with Debby driving and Maria seated at the passenger side. All her attention focused on the new book she had borrowed from the school library. They were on their way home from a get together party up north with their old school mates.
The strokes of rain flogged bountifully on their vehicle. The car wiper brushing off the drops of rain in a rhythmic sequence. Maria stretched herself. The road was flooded and appeared to be deserted only for a few heavy vehicles that drove past. She reached out to Debby and rubbed her shoulder.
"You're doing a great job" Maria said "Hours on the wheel and you still don't feel tired"
"I'm still clinging to the wheel because of your poor eyesight. I would rather not hand over my life to you at this point. You barely see the words in your book. Then how are you gonna see an oncoming vehicle in this foggy weather" Debby replied
"Okay that's harsh," Maria said, withdrawing her hand from Debby's shoulders.
"I know right," Debby replied, smiling. "But I love you still"
"I know. I hate you though"
They both laughed hard.
They two were best friends and bedmates seven years back in high school where they were boarders. They apparently grew up not just in the same community but as neighbors too.
And every year they both travel by road together for the get together party with their old classmates. With the venue being up north at their alma mater. According to them it's always more fun traveling by road than air. The adventure is top notch as they get to see new developments in every new city they will pass through.
They got to a bend and Debby slowed down a bit. Before turning to the direction of the road. On the left a signboard read Interstate 5 miles. The rain has gotten heavier. The wiper could barely catch up with the amount of rain on the windscreen. And the sound of the rain against the old Volvo panel they were traveling with increased. This time it seemed like they were the only ones traveling on the road as they hadn't seen any other vehicles for the past few minutes.
They looked at each other but made no statement as Debby further reduced her speed. Maria closed her book and stretched for car the radio.
"What are you trying to do?" Debby asked.
" Eyes on the road please. I'm trying to Know if there's something about the rain in radio"
She tuned from station to station and after much static from the radio. The sound of cool jazz music emanated from the speakers. She found a radio station. It was music and nothing about the rain. She relaxed on her seat. Looked out the window. She could barely see the trees at the side.
"We would stop at the next gas station up ahead." Maria got back to her reading. "The rain is too much".
"But we're almost home" Debby replied "We can make it"
"Not in this rain Debby, you could barely see the road now"
"But.."
"Come on Debby, no buts"
Few minutes later Debby quickly drove past a gas station. After Maria had advices the go in and wait till the rain was over. In Debby's words she could gently glide their way home since they were just a few miles home. Maria had become angry at Debby and scared as the rain didn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. She vowed never to let Debby drive her again.
Just then a message came on the radio.
*Bringing you this message from the office of the Palmas government. There's a heavy storm headed our way. Stay indoors and avoid traveling either by sea, road or air. We repeat stay indoors. God bless you and be safe out there".
Maria looked up to Debby. This time with anger in her eyes.
"Okay my bad, '' Debby apologized, looking at Maria from the driver's seat. Now she was driving blind. As the weather was foggy.
"Eyes on the road Deb!" Maria yelled
"But we're just a stone throw home. We can make it"
"Eyes on the road!"
Debby didn't see the incoming truck. And before she swerved so quickly to avoid a head-on collision it was too late.