Chapter 22: Flat Tire in the Storm

“Ash…”

Chris murmured, glancing over at her.

Her expression looked a little lost.

“Want to take your medicine first?”

Just as he was about to signal a right turn, about to stop again, the car suddenly jolted.

Then a dull bang came from the right rear. The car tilted sharply to the right, and the steering wheel suddenly went heavy, hard to control.

The sharp screech of tires against the road tore through the quiet rain. In the rattling cabin, Ash screamed in terror.

Her hands gripped the handle above the door, knuckles white from the strain.

Ash’s small body swung violently with every sway. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest.

“…No… no… no… pull up, pull up!!”

Ash whimpered, curling in on herself, pressed against the door.

The wipers still swept mechanically across the windshield. The rain kept falling.

Chris clenched his jaw. He gripped the wheel with both hands, thumbs hooked over the rim, veins standing out on his arms.

He eased his foot off the gas and tapped the brake, trying to steady the car.

Fifty miles an hour wasn’t an impossible speed to manage, but the slick road had robbed the tires of their grip. The car slid left and right like a runaway horse.

Each sway made Ash’s breathing shorter. Old memories flooded back. An unconscious scream left her lips, laced with fear and helplessness.

“Don’t be scared, Ash. Don’t be scared! I’ve got it!”

Chris glanced at Ash, his voice low and hurried, trying to calm her.

He kept his eyes fixed ahead, wrenching the wheel to keep the car from spinning out completely.

Rain hammered the windows like a hundred hands dragging them both into the abyss.

“Don’t be afraid, Ash. The speed’s already dropped… we’ll be fine.”

Finally, after a few violent jolts, the car came to a stop, angled sideways against the guardrail at the side of the road.

The roar of the engine faded. Only the rain drumming the roof remained, a tight beat against their eardrums.

Chris let out a breath and turned at once to look at Ash.

She hadn’t shaken the fear yet. Her body was curled, her eyes vacant, muttering softly to herself.

He had seen that look before. Just yesterday morning. The disoriented Ash had taken the potted plant at home for an enemy.

“It’s okay, Ash. It’s okay.”

Chris soothed her, letting go of the wheel and pulling the doctor’s medicine from his bag.

“It’s all right, Ash. I’m right here… Take the medicine. Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.”

He spoke gently, patiently, reaching a hand over to stroke her.

Even the rain outside seemed to understand. The thunder stopped. The beating on the roof nearly died out.

The cabin grew quiet again.

Under Chris’s comfort, Ash slowly came back. She lifted her head to look at him. The fear in her eyes was gradually replaced by something more complicated.

Her throat moved, as if she wanted to say something. But in the end she only nodded slightly, let go of the handle, and took the medicine.

Her body was still a bit stiff, but her breathing had steadied.

“Here, Ash. Water.”

Chris took a bottle of mineral water from the side compartment, unscrewed it, and handed it over.

Ash took it silently and swallowed the pills.

After a moment, she spoke: “I thought we were going to crash again… what can I say, Mamba out.”

Her tone sounded brighter. The last bit was even said in a joking way, quoting some slang from who-knows-where.

Chris smiled in relief.

He ruffled Ash’s hair one more time and said, “Let me go see what happened. Probably a flat tire.”

With that, he moved to unbuckle his seatbelt. But when his hand found the latch, Ash’s hand touched his.

“What’s wrong, Ash?”

“…”

She stayed quiet, lips parting and closing as if she wanted to say something.

In the end, she pulled her hand away. “Be careful. And don’t get soaked and catch a cold.”

“Hah, no worries. I’ve got an umbrella.”

Chris said, released his belt, and leaned deep into the back seat, searching for an umbrella.

After a bit he sat back up and grinned. “Seems there’s no umbrella after all.”

“Then don’t go… Call for a tow truck instead.”

“How am I supposed to call from the car?”

Chris laughed, then said, “It’s fine. The rain’s letting up now. A little drenching won’t hurt.”

He opened the door and dashed out into the rain.

Ash watched his figure flash past the windshield and out of sight on the right. She mumbled under her breath, “Chris is so tough. He won’t catch a cold, right?”

“Just as I thought. Flat tire.”

Chris stared at the gash in the tire, talking to himself.

Cold raindrops hit his face and shoulders, soaking through his shirt.

“Guess we won’t make it to Aunt Mei’s today.”

Chris got up and ran for the trunk.

The raindrops clattered against the car body, dense and urgent, as if the whole world was rushing him to get it done.

By the time the trunk was open, rainwater was dripping from his hair. He wiped the water from his eyes and pulled out the jack and the tire iron.

He crouched, set the jack under the car, and began turning the handle.

As the wheel slowly lifted, rain ran down his arms and soaked his cuffs.

Chris’s movements were clumsy. He didn’t change tires often, especially not in this kind of downpour.

Just as he got the jack set and was about to take off the blown tire, a dull purple bolt of lightning cut across the sky.

The quiet sky grew loud again.

With a low rumble of thunder, the rain suddenly strengthened.

The steady drizzle turned into a torrent, crashing down in sheets.

It was as if the sky had been ripped open and the rain poured down like a waterfall.

“Bad luck.”

Chris muttered, speeding up his movements.

The tire iron slipped on the wet lug nuts a few times. His fingers were stiff from the cold metal, but he paid it no mind and gritted his teeth, pushing on.

Bang.

The car door swung open.

Ash came running out through the wind and rain.

She pulled off her trench coat, held it up over her head, and pressed close to Chris, sheltering him from the rain.

“Don’t catch a cold, Chris.”

She said it simply, with a sweet, naive smile.

“Thanks.”

Chris nodded. He knew Ash wouldn’t listen and go back to the car at a time like this. As she used to say, we’re good brothers, so we share the good and the bad.

Chris gave a slight shake of his head and focused on changing the spare tire.

But for Ash, it wasn’t just about keeping Chris dry. There was another reason. She was too afraid.

The patter of rain against the window always echoed with the gunfire in her memories. And the moment that thought took hold, Philadelphia turned into the jungles of Vietnam.

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