Damn, she turned down a one way street the wrong way!  Well, if she thinks that's gonna stop me, she's got another thought coming!  That big ****' truck will run interference for me!

I fumbled with my cell, figuring I'd let Charlie know that I was gonna be late getting his car back to him.  Yeah, I was gonna be keeping this hot damned woman occupied for a good long time!  ****, line's busy.

I wonder who she's calling?  Probably her boyfriend to tell him she was going to be tied up.  I laughed aloud at the thought.

Suddenly, her brake lights blazed red and blue smoke burst out from under her rear tires.  ****!  I hit my own brakes, hard.

"Whatever you do, never - ever let yourself get hit head on," my dad had always told me.  I sure hope her dad told her the same thing!

I swerved to the right at the same instant she did and stopped a few feet behind just as she came to a hard, abrupt stop; the tail end of the truck lifted a little as she hit what appeared to be a tree.

I saw her air bags explode in brilliant white pillows a second before I jumped out of my car.

I went straight to the passenger side because the driver side air bag was blocking the left door.  I poked my head up to the open window and raised her boot, swinging it side to side.

I smiled.  She smiled and shot me the finger!

On the seat between us was a cell phone and someone was yelling, "Matilda?  Matilda!  Can you hear me, now?  Matilda!"

I lost my smile.  That's strange, that sounds just like...

"Hey," I said aloud, "that's....that's Charlie!"