The drive from Columbia to Candlelight was simple. Sammi first stopped at the Mini-Mart at the corner of E. Broadway and Highway 63 for a large black coffee and a chocolate long john and settled into her minivan. She rested her head, took a sip of her still, hot brew and returned to Candlelight in her mind. Such a small town it was. She loved Main Street because it was so simple. As you entered town, the only building on the left is Kerls’ Gas Station and Mini-Mart and Barber’s Bakery, City Hall, Bill’s Barber Shop, The Grocery Store and Candlelight Hardware lined up on the right. The Candlelight Factory, the largest building in town, was prominently at the end of the street facing the entry to town from Columbia. Lamp posts lined the street with actual candles inside that a paid Candlelight Factory employee lit every evening. A tall Christmas tree stood in the parking lot of the gas station, filled with ornaments and candles. Her understanding that they were original candles in the beginning but now are solar powered now. She smiled at the thought of entering her hometown now and turned the key and started her vehicle.
She eased out on to E. Broadway following the traffic to the intersection and pulled into the right turn lane as she waited for the light to turn green. She took another quick sip and a bite from her doughnut as she turned onto Highway 63 slowly gaining speed as she entered the ramp to merge on the two lane road. She watched digits of her speedometer slowly gain to 65 and she set the cruise control. She relaxed again, taking another bite of the doughnut. Sammi flicked on the radio using the buttons on her steering wheel and again settled in her seat for the 30 minute ride to Candlelight..
A scavenger hunt. She hadn’t been on a scavenger hunt since she was a member of her MYF group at the Candlelight Methodist Church. MYF, Methodist Youth Fellowship…that was a while ago, too. It was a team event that time, and she was on a team with her best friend Libby Davis. It was quite a lengthy list as she remembered and the two of them really tried that time, banging on a lot of neighbor doors asking for the various trinkets and rushing back to beat the time limit. They thought they might be the winners because they were the first ones back and were missing only two items. But no, they lost and were the only ones who didn’t get all of the items on the list. She reached over and snatched her coffee from the cup holder beside her and slowly finished her drink keeping a careful eye on the road. Buildings were slowly giving way to trees along the edges on the side of the road. She sat up a little taller in her seat as she knew the first view of her hometown was just ahead. The trees seemed to arch across the road, almost touching but not quite, creating a tunnel and she saw it. The Candlelight Factory first and then the lampposts, the Christmas tree, and then the town. She slowed, turned her turn signal for a left hand turn and eased into the parking lot of Kerls’ Gas Station and Mini-mart.
—
Fred was making good time streaking down interstate 70 at a cruise control speed of 75 miles per hour. Traffic was reasonable light but with, to him, seemed like a lot of trucks pulling huge piggy-back trailers. Exit 126 for Highway 63 was just ahead, and he had already decided to stop at the QT located there for a break. As he slowed entered the ramp following a light gray Ford Mustang that he envied when it flew past him. He always wanted a Mustang. They just looked sharp to him. He didn’t really know why but they always did. At the light, he turned right on 63 that would take him north to Kirksville if he stayed on it instead he turned again onto the outer road and into the parking lot of the QuikTrip.
He pulled alongside a gas pump, got it out of the car, and headed inside. He first headed toward the restroom and then to the coffee stand. He decided on a large Hawaiian Kona blend, grabbed an egg, sausage and cheese breakfast sandwich from warm sandwich shelf and stood in line at the counter. After paying, he went back to his vehicle, opened the door and threw the bag with the sandwich over onto the passenger seat and turned to the pump. He placed his coffee cup on the roof and pulled his wallet out, again, because he just put it back after paying for his stuff inside. He sighed as he tapped his card on the pump pad beginning the process of paying for the fuel he was about to put in the car. Having finished all of that, he sat back inside the car and turned the key in the ignition, he reached down to grab his coffee from the holder beside him. There was nothing there. He slowly began to laugh out loud and reopened his door. He put his leg out and slowly stood up, reaching with his left hand to snatch the cup from the roof and sat back down in his seat. He couldn’t wait to get back home to Candlelight.
My First Stories 