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(Page 2 of 6) the trailer by Jim Vaughn
 (3 ratings)
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The sheer vastness of this land, overtook me as I was driving along the gritty road, headed towards Sally's place.
I pass very few cars on the road nor did I see any houses. It's as the skycap had said, very desolate and in the middle of nowhere. Finally after what seems like days, I arrive at the turn marked on my somewhat sweat soaked map. This is where Sally said to get off this meandering ribbon of blacktop in the middle of nowhere at this junction. Having accomplished that, I proceeded to drive the rest of the way without incident.
As I approached the entrance of this particular trailer park, it struck me how I wished things hadn't turned out so badly for such a wonderful person. I pull in and look down the row of shabby trailers, and carports, that had once stood erect and proud. I see broken bicycles, and discarded cars strewn about like broken dreams.
Sally, is sitting in an oil stained rocking chair she got from the local Salvation Army. The stark contrast in Sally's life shocks me. Sally was once person of importance. She volunteered with advocacy groups, ranging from children's rights, to local hospitals. The story of her life flashes back in my mind.
Sally, had once held the position of executive secretary for a large corporation.
But as years passed, her husband had became much more successful. Sally found that she spent more time involved in her husbands business, which gave her less time for herself, which meant she had to quit her job.
They discussed their finances, the decision was made. She should quit her job.
Sally, at times regretted the sacrifices of giving up her identity to be Paul's personal planner, and social secretary. Sally loved him and was proud of the accomplishments he had made in his life. She was very happy to be a part of that.
Until upon that fateful night, Sally had came home early from an all weekend retreat with her Lady's of awareness study group. Instead of bothering her husband for a ride from the airport she had caught a cab.
As they drove down the street towards her house, Sally thought about how she needed to spend more time with her husband Paul.
Paul worked long hours during the week, and she was usually in bed by the time he got home. She said the 3 weekends a month she volunteered at the hospital meant she didn't have time to spend with him on weekends.
As they pulled down the street, Sally saw an unfamiliar car. She knew most of Paul's friends and she didn't recognize it as one of theirs. The more Sally looked at it, the more she began to worry.
She could see the Madris Gras beads hanging on the mirror, the outline of a stuffed bear was sitting on the dashboard. It looked exactly like the one Paul had given her for Valentine's day, Sally said.
Her heart hung in her chest like a lump of ice, as she stared at it. Sally said she got out of the cab in a daze, and faintly heard the cabby offer to carry her bags.
Numb from the sight of the bear, she said that wouldn't be necessary.
Sally entered the house and heard moaning, it coming from the dining room, so she wandered that direction.
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