Oklahoma Gothic

Carol had dated Keith for several months, long enough for his quirks to simmer to her annoyance. The ice storms trapping them in her house for the two weeks prior to Christmas had depleted more than Carol’s patience. Keith had helped himself to the ribs and steaks reserved for Carol’s Christmas feast. Before friends and family piled into Carol’s home for Christmas, she knew she would need to make a decision. Use Keith for the Christmas meat, or improvise. Carol decided Keith, with the little meat she had left, would have to feed the family. However, after checking the deep-freeze, Carol realized Keith was nowhere to be found. 

“Two killed, two in critical condition after an automobile accident,” the newsman with big teeth said. I tried to block out all that was said about the wreck, about my little brothers being killed; none of it was real—it couldn’t be. But still, I couldn’t sleep that night. Momma had always been such a careful driver, but one text message from Rick changed all that. Momma swerved hard when the headlights came over the hill. Early the following morning, I overheard the nurses whisper, “she didn’t make it.” Terrified they were talking about Momma, I rushed to her room. Rick was there, flowers in hand and tears in eyes that stared straight through me. “There ain’t nothing we can do for her now,” he said. “It’s all my fault.” After that, I walked over and gave Momma a kiss, and like Sleeping Beauty, she woke up!   We talked for a long time, Rick just cried.