1114. The short way home

20 Replies

Rachel decided to drive her mother to visit her mother’s widowed brother-in-law. It was a three hour drive. They hadn’t seen each other for several years.

Uncle Herbert had prepared lunch for his sister-in-law, Maureen, and his niece Rachel. They had a lovely time chatting away and catching up. Then it was time to drive home. Uncle Herbert said, “Goodness me, that’s not the quick way home. Turn off down the road at Harrisville and you’ll cut a good half hour off the journey. After turning, just follow the road.”

So Rachel and her mother turned off at Harrisville.

“I never realised where this shortcut was, but I’ve always heard people talk about it,” said Maureen.

On they drove. Four hours later Rachel declared “We seem at last to be getting somewhere”. And they were! One last turn in the road, and lo!

Somehow they were back in Harrisville…

20 thoughts on “1114. The short way home”

  6. umashankar

    I wonder why Harrisville sounds similar to ferris wheel! As has been observed above, most of us have fallen victims to Uncle Herberts of this world at least once in our lives. I hope they were able to find their way back to the congenial host.

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. derrickjknight

    Tom Paxton – Georgie on the Freeways lyrics
    The summer sun was beating down,
    Oh pity would it show
    George Chester’s office air conditioner
    Would no longer go.
    As pools of sweat rolled off his brow
    He had one reverie.
    He saw himself with his wife and kids
    In his cottage by the sea.

    He paid for his car at the parking lot
    Which gave the poor man chills.
    The attendant laughed and walked away
    Thumbing a roll of bills.
    He started his engine with trembling hands
    At the end of a long, hard day.
    And placing himself in the hands of God
    He drove to the long freeway.

    The traffic stretched far as the eye can see
    As bumper to bumper they sped.
    They drove at supernatural speeds
    Which filled his heart with dread.
    Sometimes they stopped for an hour or more
    And a thousand horns would blow.
    George Chester’s eyes rolled back in his head
    And his poor brain started to go.
    [Lyrics from: https:/lyrics.az/tom-paxton/aint-that-news/georgie-on-the-freeways.html]

    He came at last to the turnpike gate
    And he laid his money down.
    He took the fist turn to the right
    And he followed the curve around
    He took each bend of the clover leaf,
    He followed every sign,
    And when he came back to the same toll gate
    He gave them another dime.

    His hands were tight on the steering wheel,
    His lips and throat were dry.
    He swore by all that he held dear
    He’d make it through or die.
    He took the first turn to the right
    The clover leaf to go through.
    He was quite sure of his success
    Till the toll gate rose in view.

    And now they say when the moon is full
    And the clover leaf is still,
    The sound of an engine can be heard
    Laboring up the hill.
    A dime drops in the toll machine
    In the cool of a summer’s night.
    And eternally that poor car
    Takes the first turn to the right.

    Liked by 2 people

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  8. Bruce Goodman Post author

    Thanks for that “short” comment Derrick. It reminded me in fact of the time I drove from Toledo, Ohio, to Boston, Massachusetts, with just enough cash for petrol but no cash for the road tolls – so I drove along all the tiny little back roads! I made it!!!

    Liked by 1 person

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