Chapter 1: A Chance encounter

Chapter 1: A Chance encounter

Nothing good ever came from starting a conversation in a gas station bathroom. It broke at least three unspoken rules, but not acting would have broken a bigger, more personal one. Chance stepped over a puddle of liquid on the old tiles that could have been either beer or piss judging by where he was, it probably would have tasted the same.

Excuse me? Chance asked, clearing his throat as he came to a stop a healthy few feet behind a large man wearing a stained white shirt that was only half covered by the ill-fitting leather jacket over its top.

The man, who still had his hands on the front of his pants, craned his head back to look at Chance with beady eyes in disbelief. A ratty hat sat askew on his head, and several weeks of stubble flavored with Cheeto dust covered his face.

Yer kidding me, the man said. Im taking a piss. Screw off.

Chance cleared his throat and held up the wallet hed picked up only a few minutes before. You dropped this.

The large man fumbled with his pants, zipping them up with a sharp motion. He swore, yanking the zipper back down and hopping from foot to foot in pain for a few seconds before properly rezipping them.

Thats not mine, the trucker said.

Yes it is, Chance said with a frown. It fell out of your pocket when you walked in here.

The trucker snatched the wallet from his hands and flipped it open. Huh. Guess it is. Didnt realize that was me today.

Im sorry? Ah, never mind. Im sorry for bothering you. I hope you have a nice day.

Chance turned to head back out of the bathroom. A meaty hand fell on his shoulder and his stomach twisted. That wasnt good.

Hold on, the trucker said. I been a bit rude. It would have been real bad if I lost that. Can I get you a drink?

Dad did always say not to turn down a gift offered up in kindness.

Okay, if youre sure about it. You really dont need to pay me back or anything, its what anyone would have done.

Thats what everyone says, but not what everyone does, the trucker replied. He took his hand off Chances shoulder and washed his hands in the stained sink. Names Bob.

Hi Bob. Im Chance.

God, did I really just say that? It sounds like Im at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

Bob didnt comment on it. He shut the water off and wiped his hands off on the front of his shirt probably the most cleaning it had seen in weeks and ambled out into the gas station. Chance trailed after him, already regretting his decision.

Each step sent a tiny pang of pain through him. The ill-fitting shoes hed been wearing for the past year didnt agree much with him, judging by the blisters covering his feet.

Whaddya want? Bob asked, stopping in front of the liquor isle. Its on me, kid.

Ah, I dont actually do alcohol, Chance said, rubbing the back of his head. Family history. Would milk be okay?

Bob stared at him. Then he let out a grunting laugh. Kid wants milk. Sure, I did say anything.

He grabbed a bottle of beer for himself, then snagged one of the small cartons of milk from the fridge behind it. Bob ambled over to the self-checkout, scanning the drinks. The screen lit up with the total of seven dollars and fifty cents. He swiped his card through the scanner.

The machine buzzed, a red error screen flashing up on the display. Bobs eye twitched. He tried a second card and earned himself a second error.

Youve got to be kidding me. Stupid thing doesnt take card? Bob asked, cursing under his breath and leafing through his wallet. Stupid piece of shit. I hate this place. Only good thing they have is booze.

Damn it. But he tried to do something nice for me, I cant just not help.

They drank in silence for a few minutes. Then Bob let out a loud belch.

What are the plans now, kid? Just gonna free spirit it around for the rest of your life?

Until something happens, I guess, Chance replied. I could get a job, but I dont really want to join the rat race not that Ive got the education to get anywhere in the first place.

Tell me about it, Bob said. Bureaucrats. Politics. Its the absolute worst. Bunch of assholes at the top, I tell you.

Chance laughed. Do you deal with a lot of that in your job?

More than you could ever imagine.

Bob tipped the last of his drink into his mouth. He squinted into the bottle and sighed, tossing it into the trashcan behind them. He studied Chance for a second, something unreadable passing through those tiny eyes of his.

A shiver ran down Chances spine as goosebumps across his skin. That didnt feel right, but he couldnt quite place why. He still had a fair amount of his milk left Chance always savored his milk so he took another small sip.

You dont like it here, do you? Bob asked. His voice was different deeper, like he was speaking from lower in his chest.

I mean, its not the worst, Chance said. Im alive and here. Thats more than most people.

What if you didnt have to be? Bob asked. Here, that is. What would you do?

Thats a dangerous line of thought, I think, Chance said carefully. I mean, if Im dreaming about what could be, Ill never enjoy what is. My dad taught me to be content and optimistic, no matter what happened. I think those were good rules to live by.

And he got trucked, Bob said, but it didnt sound like he saw that as a particularly negative thing. Sounds like a good man.

Is Bob trying to imply that only good people get hit by trucks?

Chance shook his head. The unease died in his chest as soon as it arose. Bob was a little weird, but he knew that the trucker didnt mean any harm by it. The man was just a little awkward.

He was. I miss him and my mom every day. Thats why I try to live how they did. Maybe Im patting myself on the back, but I think Im doing a good job.

Chance looked at the ground, where the cap of Bobs bottle laid near his feet bent almost perfectly in half. The tiny flick the trucker had given the cap had nearly sheared it in two.

But what if you had a shot to take another shot at things somewhere else, where you actually had control over your life?

What, like if I had magic powers? Or if I was just rich? Chance replied. That sounds amazing, to be honest. I guess Im free right now, but its not the same as being free. Id love to be able to just do whatever I wanted. But that isnt how life works. You deal with the hand youve been dealt, and you do it as best as you can.

Look, kid. I hate this job most of the time. Its just quotas and awful, bumpy rides. I don't know how you feel, but I feel for you. Enough to do a little work off the clock. Thanks for making my day a little more interesting.

No problem. I should probably get going, anyway. It was nice meeting you, Bob.

Bob didnt respond. Chance blinked. There was no sign of the trucker. All that remained was the faint, lingering scent of cheese. He looked around, baffled. Then his eyes caught on the bent bottlecap on the ground.

Okay, not a hallucination. But where the hell did he go?

Chance knelt and picked the bottlecap up, turning it over in his hand as he tried to make sense of what was happening. He grimaced as light reflected off the shimmery cap and straight into his eyes.

His brain almost made an audible whirr as it kicked into gear and he jerked his gaze up, right into the twin beams of a semitruck that was hurtling toward him.

It was strange. As death hurtled toward Chance, going well over fifty miles an hour in the middle of a barren parking lot, his brain seemed to pick out the oddest details. The squeal of rubber on cement. A tiny, angel shaped ornament hanging from the rearview mirror. The spilled milk seeping into his shoes. On the grill, a license plate read GODTRCK.

The horn blared, and in the window, Bob raised a hand in a sharp salute, a grin crossing his flabby face. Then the truck hit him. There was a flash of pain, and Chance knew no more.