Like Something Out of a Video Game

Tyler Busby really loves cars. After all, nothing cures spells of boredom or a dreary day better than taking a nice long drive he muses, his elbow resting comfortably on the open window of his recently purchased Mustang, the warm summer’s night breeze blowing pleasantly. He was on his way back from an impromptu drive disguised as a Walmart trip, seeing as that was really the only thing to in Peterbourough, Mass.

He patted the outside door of the car fondly as he took a wide corner. Boy, did he have some grand plans for rebuilding this car… He had always enjoyed was working machinery; designing, upgrading, modifying, you name it- and the Mustang was going to be his big summer project. He ran through the mental checklist he’d started, listing the parts he was going to replace and rework- springs, struts, shocks, exhaust... maybe even some work on the V6 engine? He’d make it ride like a racecar in no time, he smiled to himself- nothing like the SUV it felt like now.

Tyler’s visions of the future were interrupted when he found himself starting to ride the breaks, coming up behind a car going so slow it probably was against the law. He checked his speedometer and cringed- it read 39mph, while he knew for a fact the speed limit on this stretch was 55mph. He looked ahead on the road- it was a straight stretch for about the next mile or so, and no oncoming traffic or obstacles in sight.

“Let’s see what you’re capable of,” he grinned as he pressed the gas pedal to the floor, eliciting a most satisfying rev from the engine. He gained speed quickly, and started to pull over to his left as he came up upon the offending vehicle. He was completely in the other lane when it happened.

He still doesn’t know where the puddle came from- it hadn’t rained for days and the area all around was completely dry- but that doesn’t really matter. All that mattered was that it was there. And he rode unsuspectingly into it at full speed, driving a rear wheel drive car for the first time and unprepared for how very easy it was to spin out. And that was exactly what he did.

Before he’d had time to register what was happening, the Mustang was out of his control in a full-on spin. Tyler was a careful driver, never taking unnecessary risks or attempting anything too crazy- so he had never been in a situation like this before.

But somehow, miraculously, he found himself taken over by a sense of calm. In a smooth movement, he pulled the wheel in the opposite direction, taking his foot off the gas and instead tapping at the breaks. He watched as the front side of his Mustang swung around to complete a full 360 degree spin, just inches away from side of the car he’d been trying to pass. He continued to let the car spin, until he felt the Mustang was facing the right direction on the road again- he nailed the break and pulled the wheel back to center.

The car rolled forward as he cautiously nudged the gas. Once sure he was in control once again, he pressed down harder to finish what he had started- speeding past the car he had nearly taken off the road. It was just like something out of a video game, the thought flew through his still eerily clear mind.

It was only after he was securely on his side of the road, well ahead of that car and once again cruising comfortably through the summer night did he really realize exactly what had just occurred. But instead of worry, the only thing he could do was laugh as he imagined the face of that poor, slow driver now miles behind him.