MT-191

I couldnt see anything. it was all white. it reminded me of when i was little and kimi and i would put pillow cases on our heads and pretend to be toothbrushes. my pillowcases were white but if i pressed my face up to the linen i could kind of see. this is what it looked like out of my windshield. thank god i had just rolled a cigarette and chugged a red bull.

jena was in the back on the phone with 911 asking them to get us out of the storm. they didnt really know what we expected them to do. i didnt know what we needed either. i kept skidding on the ice. i went to pull off the road because the 911 operator was screexhing at her that we were a hazard to the semis that had snow tires and could drive in this. we were now in a ditch. i still wasnt processing any of this. just reacting.

a truck with a gigantic contraption hooked on the back pulled over in front of us.

jena: is he pulling over or stopping?
michelle: i think hes stopping.

me: hes running to us!
jena: hes running!

*shrieks of glee overwhelm the minivan*

i roll down the window.

montanta man: do you guys need help?
me: yes! i couldnt see so we had to get off the road.
mm: are you stuck?
me: im not sure.
mm: turn your wheel this way and try to go.
minivan: skid skid im not going anywhere skid skid
mm: yea youre stuck. i have a tow rope, want me to tow you out?
everyone (including the minivan): yes!

being a van full of girls we all start speculating if hes single or not. michelle puts on 'unchained melody' in the van. the montana man backs his truck up and he starts hooking his rope up underneath. he came back to the window.

mm: ok put your car in drive and turn your wheel this way and once your out make sure you dont go back into the ditch.
me: ok. whats your name?
travis: travis
me: im colleen
michelle: im michelle
jena: im jena in the back!

travis shakes all our hands through the window.

minivan: this is an odd sensation. getting pulled. i feel as if im in a blackhole being sucked against my will
me: shut up minivan.

travis comes back to our window and gives us the bad news. something had nicked our brake line and it was leaking fluid. soon we would have no brakes.

minivan: im free!

we followed him to a gas station that was a few miles up the road. a conversation starts to go on about what we would do with no brakes. travis then becomes a hero. the shining light in a dark room. the one vegan dish on a menu.

travis: were going to great falls too, i could drive your van and my girlfriend could drive our truck.
us: really? with no brakes?
travis: i used to drive one of those (points to a semi) and its actually better to not use brakes on the ice.
us: if you would do that that would be amazing.

travis takes the wheel and begins to drive us to great falls. we all delight him with our witty repertoire. it took about two hours but we made it to our shitty motel,

the next night i slept 13 hours.