I wanted to begin writing short posts about some of the funny stuff that happens on our road trip. Kind of like a comic strip, but without the pictures. While brewing possible titles in my head, a little bright lightbulb popped up over John’s and he said, “Rumblestrips!” Good one.
(For those who haven’t been behind the wheel in a while, rumblestrips are those bumps put on roads near the center line or edge. They make a loud rumble when you drive over them– a road’s way of saying “Wake up, dummy– You’re crossing the line! Get back on the road!”)
On another important note: this is the new name of our movie! Rumblestrips. Perfect symbol for the story we are trying to tell about a slightly wayward single mother taking her rough-and-tumbleweed kids on the road for some good cinematic life lessons.
Ok, so here it is — Rumblestrips #1:
—————–
Bisbee, Arizona. We were hunkered down in Harvey for the night, John and I tucked tight in the backroom bed, when Lulu and Zelda run outside for a goodnight pee. Lulu comes back in. Then suddenly Zelda lets out a series of crystal-cracking screams. John, underwear and all, jumps up, and with fists flying Popeye-style he leaps in front of the door bellowing, “WHO WANTS TO GET FUCKED UP!!!!!!” I’m right behind him with stone cold back-up.
At this point we notice there is actually nobody there… except for Zelda and her poor thumb stuck in the door. John frees her, and in a flurry she is back in the RV, trembling and loudly chanting “I’m brave! I’m brave! I’m BRAVE…!!” She sounded kind of like Shirley Temple auditioning for a Vincent Price flick. Her thumb is bent, but not bloody or broken. John takes about an hour to decompress to his usual non-Hulk size.
I love my sweet maniac. Our hero…..!