Old Man

The sound of crashing cans onto the floor could be heard, interspersed with a
curse word and a laugh.

BAM BAM came the report of the big pistol. A young clerk lost his life.

"Damn it Al! Why'd ya do that?"

"Shut up! Grab more stuff and let's get out of here pronto!"

As they head to the door a car pulls in driven by a middle aged woman.

Al hurrys to the driver's door and yanks the woman out. BAM goes the pistol one more time.

"What the hell is wrong with you Al?"

"I said to shut yo yap! Now get in!"

Al puts the car in Drive and lays rubber out the drive.

. . . . .

"Give me something to munch on and a drink Pete."

"Sure Al." Pete reaches into the bag and grabs a packet of Slim Jims and a Monster. Hands them to Al.

"A Monster?! Are you a retard? Give me a beer stupid!"

Pete gets a beer.

Al downs it in one long swig. "That's better. Give me another."

And so the night wears on. Al looking into the rear view mirror to make sure no one is after
them and Pete making sure Al is kept happy with food and drink.

. . . . .

The engine sputters and quits. Al gets the car onto the shoulder out of the traffic lane.

"Great. Outta gas. At least no one was following."

"Now what Al? We are in the middle of corn fields and no one in sight for miles."

"An old farmer will be by soon. We'll grab his truck and keep goin. Sun be up in a while. Farmers get an early start don't ya know."

"Sure Al. If you say so. I'm a city kid wouldn't have the foggiest notion of what farmers do or don't do."

They wait in the darkness of the car.

. . . . .

Headlights appear in the distance behind them, moving slow down the country road.

"Right on time Pete. Here comes our next ride."

"Ya gonna shoot the farmer Al?"

"What do ya think there Petey? Ha Ha Haaaa."

The old pickup pulls behind Al and Pete's getaway car. It's a Chevy thats dependable though not a looker. A farmer's truck it is. The farmer leaves the headlights on and gets out.

Al had already grabbed the pistol and put it in his belt at his lower back and put his shirttail over it. He was standing by the door when the old farmer reached him.

"Trouble son?"

"Whadya think old man? We sittin here waitin for the Sun to rise? Hell yeah we got trouble."

"Didn't mean nuthin by it boy. Ya need gas?"

Reaching behind him Al brings out the big pistol and points it at the old farmer.

"No old man. I need your truck!"

The farmer doesn't move. Not a muscle. Not a flinch. Just stares into Al's eyes.

"Pete. Go get the truck and bring it along side!"

"Sure Al."

As Pete gets by the glare of the truck's headlights he could see through the windshield into the cab. What he saw stopped him. On the seat sat a big, no huge, black dog. His red eyes following every move Pete made. The dog's muzzle was open in a menacing way baring huge white teeth and the most prominent cuspids Pete had ever seen on a dog.

Pete quickly returns to the car.

"I told you to get the damn truck!"

"There's a big ass dog in that truck Al! Scares me to death!"

The old farmer says, "Al is it? Well, ya ain't gettin my truck."

"I'll shoot yer ass and the dog too! I always get what I want and I want that truck!"

"You can shoot me alright. You ain't gonna shoot that dog. And once he smells the death on me I sure wouldn't want to be you sonny! Or Pete!"

"Damn it don't shoot the old farmer!"

"Best listen to Pete there Al. I got's some gas in the back. Bout 5 gallons. It's enough to get you to the nearest town of sorts. I keep it just for emergencies like this. Tho I must admit most folks don't want to shoot me for the truck."

"Let me think."

"What about Al? You are in the middle of corn fields. Ain't no town for at least 20 miles all around. I ain't got a cell phone or nuthin. You get away with Pete here and I keep my truck and my life. Sounds fair don't it Al?"

"OK! Get the gas old man."

"Smart decision Al. Just be a sec."

. . . . .

As the car pulls away with Al and Pete the old farmer whistles for the dog.

"Now dog that car is gonna have a problem right about now."

Just then the getaway car explodes into flames. The drivers door and the passenger door both fly open as Al and Pete, on flames, escape the vehicle.

"OK boy, go get yer meal. Thought a BBQ would be good for ya tonight!"

The big hound leaps toward the car, with each bound the dog gets bigger and bigger. Soon yells of fright and the crunch of bones reach the old farmer.

. . . . .

After a short while the hell hound returns to the old farmer. Satisfied, the dog sits in front of the old man.

"I see some redness in your eyes still. You ain't quite full yet. I know of one little snack that should return those eyes to brown. I can see Joey slinking about the bushes in town wanting to rape a young girl in her bedroom. Not nice of Joey."

"Jump in dog. Let's go take care of Joey. And here I thought it would be hard to feed yer big ass. No worries. There will always be bad folks for you to feed on."

"Ha Haaaa Haaaaaa!"