Clarence (part 3 of 3)

Clarence

"I can't believe that, partner,"

Mary

“Since you’re awake,” Mary began. “Mind if we stop at the Sheriff’s office to see how the accident resolved? If it did at all. I’m sure they made progress, if nothing else, in screwing it up even more.”

Clarence turned to her and the windbreaker fell off of his head completely now. The torrent of some bright light stabbed at his eye and mind. Clarence grabbed the wheel.  Mary hit at his hands but his were strong and firm.  He jerked the wheel to the right of the road.  The tiny car maneuvered easily to the side in short fast movements.  He jerked it more and more.  The cement barrier seemed to leap closer and farther away to Clarence when Mary began to break.  She slowed fast and Clarence felt the pull of his seatbelt against his torso snapping forward.

The small Casper was now stopped and slanted slightly right and only inches from the cement barrier separating them from a narrow but deep ditch. 

“What the hell was that for?” Mary yelled.

“The car, geese, are you okay? Maybe there was oil.”

“The car what, Clarence?” Mary repeated in another yell as she restarted the car.

“Maybe ice? But there probably hasn’t even been frost yet.  It’s too early in fall for ice,” Clarence was confused.

“The car what? The car what?!”

“It swerved!” Clarence finally answered.

“I can’t believe that, partner.  Now keep your hands under your butt for the rest of the trip.”

“You mean-“ Clarence began.

“Do it or I won’t start moving,” Mary promised as she took her hands off of the wheel and watched Clarence.

“Clarence held up his hands and examined them.  “You mean the car didn’t swerve?” he asked without looking away from his hands.

She looked exhausted and said, “No.” He placed his hands underneath his buttocks and she pulled out from the shoulder onto the highway.  “We won’t stop at the Sheriff’s this time.  We’ll catch anything they do in roll-call on Monday if it’s important enough.”

“Mary I’m so sorry. I’ve just been so tired recently.” That wasn’t entirely untrue but Clarence was sure the false experience had nothing to do with his fatigue. “I think I’ll just rest a little more.” What happened? Clarence worried.  He let the hum and short low rumbles of the Casper put him to sleep. 

When the car lurched to a stop he heard Donny shouting and looked up.  Sure enough his kids were spilling out of his house door. It was so unreal to see them again but so right. Laura, his ex-wife, even came out.  He realized that this was the longest he had ever been away from them. Donny ran up and gave him a hug around the neck. Neil marched out quickly and excited.  Kaylee gave him a gentle hug and said, “How’s it going dad?”

He did not remember saying ‘good-bye’ to Mary but when he turned around the little four door Casper had vanished.

What did Clarence see? Why did he see it?