Sandra

Sandra

It was late in the evening, and I was driving with my girlfriend Jenny after a fireworks party. After a few recent problems, our relationship had re-established its old bloom. We chatted idly as I guided the car around the bends of the country lanes that led back to her parents' house. It wasn't far; only about ten miles, and at least we were alone after being surrounded all night by friends. It was good to have friends, but sometimes it was nice for us to be alone, sharing our thoughts.

 We rounded a slight bend and noticed a few hundred yards up the road what appeared to be a white figure walking. Both of us remarked upon it, and I started to slow the car, wondering what it was. As we closed upon the figure, we could see that it was a woman dressed in a white mac'.

 Jenny insisted that we stop and offer her a lift. Country lanes were no place for a woman alone at night. I did as I was asked, slowing to a halt just beside the woman. Jenny wound her window down and asked the woman if we could give her a lift. The woman smiled and asked if we would mind taking her to the next village.

 The next village was about three miles away; it was on our route, and so we were happy to help.

 The woman got into the car, and we continued on our way. Jenny and the woman chatted. Apparently, her name was Sandra, and she was going home after a night out. Jen' and Sandra soon developed a typical female chatty routine; they were about the same age and shared similar interests. I stopped listening to them and concentrated on driving. The roads around here were really tight and twisting. I had forgotten just how bad they were. 

As we started onto a series of double bends, Sandra remarked to me that these bends were really dangerous and would I please take my time? That was all I needed. A back-seat driver! Grudgingly, I slowed the car. Rounding the third bend, the car skidded a little, which I corrected, with no ill effects; lucky, nothing was coming though! Sandra again warned me to take it easy. 

As we came through the last series of bends, we saw a car that had left the road and smashed into a tree. Slowing, we realised that the crash couldn't have happened very long ago as steam was still pouring from the engine. We stopped to offer whatever help we could. It looked like a nasty accident. 

Approaching the crashed vehicle, I could see that the driver was still behind the wheel, slumped forward. I started to run; the car might explode at any time; I must get the driver out. 

I threw the door open and pulled the driver back from the wheel. The driver's lifeless body fell back into the seat. I looked helplessly back at Jenny, who was rushing to help me; the driver was Sandra.