HISTORIC ROUTE 66

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begin-the-routeCopyright–Jean L. Hays

 We’re gathered together again this week in a virtual old cafe along Historic Route 66. Our hostess is gracious and talented author and artist Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. We’re here again to discuss our original stories for the week as the Friday Fictioneers. The challenge for this group is for each of us to write a story with no more than 100 words. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt was supplied by Jean L. Hays. Thanks Jean.

The link for all other stories is as follows. Be sure to click on the little blue frog in the blue box:

http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/2-january-2015/

Genre:  Nonfiction

Word Count:  100 Words

HISTORIC ROUTE 66 By P.S. Joshi

In the gap year our son took between high and college, he and a friend decided to travel Route 66. They had it planned. The friend had a new van, and they decided to tent camp when they could.

They didn’t go all the way to LA, but did see some sights such as the Grand Canyon and some of the old memorabilia along the way.

Coming back, our son was driving and started to doze off. By the time the police car pulled him over, his speed was in the 90’s. The officer had saved their lives.

friday-fictioneers

53 thoughts on “HISTORIC ROUTE 66”

    • Thanks Diana. It must have been interesting living on that historic route. This must have been the route my brother drove back in 1953 when my mother and I traveled to LA with him. I was a child and didn’t think of it at the time. He must have took a detour though, because we went to Las Vegas and that wasn’t on the route. We needed some relief as we had crossed the desert in the hotest part of the day due to the fact my brother had to be back at work the next day. 🙂 — Suzanne

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    • Thanks Patrick. He wasn’t far from reaching home. He got a ticket and had to go to court, but we told him he should thank that policeman. The man did indeed save both their lives. They were passing nearby a town and the police watched that part of the expressway. 🙂 — Suzanne

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    • Thanks Janet. It was true. Our son got a ticket and had to go to court. But we told him he should thank that policeman, because he saved both their lives. It was near a town and the police kept a watch on that section of expressway. The boys weren’t far from reaching home. — Suzanne

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    • Thanks Rochelle. It would have indeed been a tragic end. Our son’s had two friends die in car accidents since then. He had kept driving even though he was tired because they were nearing home. — Suzanne

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  5. In the southwest Route 66 has many miles of flat “nothingness” terrain and it is easy to get into a trance and drive at high speeds without realizing it. Thank goodness for the state patrol!

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    • Thanks Bjorn. Acutally that happened when the boys were back in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. They were not far from home so our son kept driving even though he was tired and it was night. — Suzanne

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  7. Susan,
    it sounds like we had similar ideas this week, although your story turns out better for most of them. That is a lucky break the police officer caught them. I know how dangerous it can be to drive drowsy.
    -David

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    • Thanks David. I’m going to go and read other stories. Yes, it was certainly a good thing the policeman caught them. Our son made the mistake of keeping on driving because they were almost home. As he was falling asleep, his foot was pressing the foot pedal farther down. — Suzanne

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    • Thanks Marg. Our son and his friend were nearing home so kept going. even though they were tired and it was dark. I know what a serious problem it is. Our son has had two friends die in auto accidents since then. He seemed to have learned a valuable lesson from the experience. — Suzanne

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    • Thanks Dawn. I know. It’s heartbreaking. Our son’s lost two friends in auto accidents since then. He was usually a careful driver, but they were nearing home so he kept going even though he was tired and it was dark. — Suzanne

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    • Thanks Ali. I know, it could have proved tragic it not for the policeman stopping them. Thats why we told our son to thank the policeman who stopped them even though our son got a ticket and had to go to court. — Suzanne

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  15. I nodded off behind the wheel once and the guardrail of a bridge woke me up. I was thankful hit the abutment leading up to the bridge or I wouldn’t be here today. A great true story, Suzanne. Thanks for sharing it with us.

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    • Thanks Russell. Glad too you were okay and that you liked the story. My dad fell asleep one time on a viaduct and was fortunate to hit one of the suppots that was sturdy. Mom didn’t know he was asleep because his eyes were open. She was amazed he could actually sleep with his eyes open. I started to doze off once on an “S” curve and almost went into a lake. At the last minute I came fully awake and swerved back onto the road. I never drove when I was that tired again. I also never told my parents about that little incident. 🙂 — Suzanne

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  18. So scary, Suzanne. Was he going 90 when he was dosing off? He is extremely lucky. Thanks for sharing your story. I almost drove off a cliff once. I must have been saved by angels!

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    • Thanks Amy. Yes, his foot was pressing harder and harder as he dozed off. I think his guardian angel was hard at work as was the policeman. I was dozing off once on an “S” curve and almost went in a lake. Probably a lot of people have had close escapes. I’m so glad you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne

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    • Thanks Siobhan. Yes, he didn’t especially like getting the ticket and going to court. My husband went with him. I’m sure he learned a lesson from it. We told him to thank the policeman who saved his life. I’m so pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne

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    • Thanks Perry. It was a great trip for my son and his friend. My son had been planning it for some time. We were all glad it came out all right. You’d have to ask my son about a trip, but I doubt he’ll take that one again. Most trips he takes these days are for his job or with his family. He did come to India by himself about a year ago. 🙂 — Suzanne

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    • Thanks Ellespeth. The ticket cost money, and I seem to remember the car insurance increased also. It does when there’s a problem like that. We were just glad the policeman stopped him that it seemed worth it at the time. You’re right. Many of us come close to disaster when we’re young. I started to doze off once driving home from college and almost went into a lake. Something about the car’s movement, or something else, jerked me back awake. 🙂 — Suzanne

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  23. Nicely told Suzanne. I am so pleased the bad ending I was expecting was averted by a policeman, just doing his job, but saving the life of your son in the process.

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  25. Sometimes a speeding ticket is just what we need! I love the song and TV show, too. And we travelled a bit of Route 66 when we were coming home from Arizona last year.

    Lily

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    • Thanks M. It’s become easier for me to write flash fiction than the longer short stories. I want very much to write the longer stories though. Both kinds take practice though. I’m so glad you liked the story. I love happy endings also, especially that one. It was true, and he policeman saved the boy’s lives. 🙂 — Suzanne

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