Beneath the Stars by Jackson A.L

Author:Jackson, A.L.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: A.L. Jackson Books Inc.
Published: 2021-02-21T16:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

Rhys

Nine Years Old

“Now you be careful, and don’t touch anythin’ up there,” Rhys’ daddy rumbled where he was focused on working on the front axle, barely payin’ Rhys any mind.

“I know, I know,” Rhys told him, climbing up the big tractor and into the cab, wishing his daddy would hurry up and get done so he could go over to Richard’s.

It was summer, and they had no school, and since it was super hot, Richard’s mama was gonna take ’em to the pool over by the library once Rhys got back.

Rhys couldn’t wait.

Inside the cab, there were all kinds of buttons and knobs. A spot for a drink since the workers had to be in the field all day.

Rhys plopped down onto the cracked seat, kinda bouncing on it, glancing around at all the knobs and dials and wondering if some day he would drive one or if maybe he’d work on it like his daddy.

He started making a rumbling noise deep in his throat as he imagined which one seemed like the most fun, and he grabbed the steering wheel, rocking it back and forth as he pretended like he was plowing up one of the fields. Then the rumbly noise grew high and faster, and Rhys shifted back in the seat as he hung onto the steering wheel, pretending he was sliding around a sharp curve, thinking he just might want to be a racecar driver instead.

“Vrooooooooooooooom,” he hollered. He could almost feel the racetrack rumbling beneath him.

He rammed at the pedal with his foot, going faster and faster, pretending like he was shifting the engine as he yanked and pushed at the stick that came up from the floor close to the seat.

In his mind, he went whizzin’ by two Indy cars like they were standin’ still.

No one could catch him.

“Vroom vroom vrooooooooooooooooom!” he shouted louder, grinning as he shifted harder.

The tractor suddenly jolted forward. His eyes went wide with fear and his heart stopped workin’ in his chest when he realized the tractor had actually moved.

But it was only an inch.

Whew.

But he was bettin’ his daddy still noticed, especially when his daddy started yelling.

He was gonna be in big trouble because he’d been messin’ around the way he wasn’t supposed to do.

His daddy was shoutin’, “Rhys! Rhys!”

The worry that he was gonna get grounded shifted and changed and became something ugly that filled up his chest.

Because his daddy’s voice sounded different.

Hard and high and…and…and afraid.

Rhys shoved at the door. It banged open, and he scrambled out, taking the side like a jungle gym.

His breaths were harsh and short.

Then they went missin’ altogether when he saw his daddy’s legs where they came out from under the tractor.

He was moving them all weird. The heels of his work boots digging into the dirt but goin’ nowhere.

“Rhys!”

Rhys jumped the rest of the way down. Fear covered him as he rushed to peer underneath.

His daddy’s arm was pinned under the metal.

And there was blood.

Rhys gulped, and his head got dizzy, and he was sure he was gonna pass out.

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