Dedication
I found this lost story in my files today:
Intro
The story begins in boulder, co with a camp-packed motorcycle holding two bodies intimately placed on a slender, blue seat. Courtney & the A.lien began their adventure to moab, ut to help at an endurance running race called, 24 Hours of Utah. Courtney's butt hurt after the first hour, but she tuned the sting out with This American Life stories echoing softly in the shitty ear buds that hurt the sensitive insides of her. There was much fidgeting on her end, but all fell silent when the moto lost it's revs on an uphill outside of Loveland Pass. Courtney & the A.lien pulled to the side of the highway and tried not to panic. The A.lien looked to her for an answer, but she munched on pita chips and waited for the something to happen. Unbeknownst to the A.lien, Courtney had been daydreaming horrific scenarios of fatal crashes or fluke occurrences, and for the moto to have simply died, was the best possible scenario in her mind. If it had to be anything, at least it was this. And it had to be something.
I found this lost story in my files today:
Intro
The story begins in boulder, co with a camp-packed motorcycle holding two bodies intimately placed on a slender, blue seat. Courtney & the A.lien began their adventure to moab, ut to help at an endurance running race called, 24 Hours of Utah. Courtney's butt hurt after the first hour, but she tuned the sting out with This American Life stories echoing softly in the shitty ear buds that hurt the sensitive insides of her. There was much fidgeting on her end, but all fell silent when the moto lost it's revs on an uphill outside of Loveland Pass. Courtney & the A.lien pulled to the side of the highway and tried not to panic. The A.lien looked to her for an answer, but she munched on pita chips and waited for the something to happen. Unbeknownst to the A.lien, Courtney had been daydreaming horrific scenarios of fatal crashes or fluke occurrences, and for the moto to have simply died, was the best possible scenario in her mind. If it had to be anything, at least it was this. And it had to be something.
Chapter 1
It was probably that the moto had overheated. Because, after several hushed minutes, it started up with it's sly, old man purr. The two mounted and rode him easy until he started to choke a bit within a long, narrow tunnel. The A.lien wouldn't let the old man die, and thank heavens, he didn't. They made it safely out of the tunnel, and on into Vail without another mishap. In Vail, which was where the A.lien had spent a good deal of his childhood, the two rode through the circle of the city & stopped for a european macciato. It was quite a gimmick: the cute town, the hobbling elderly walking from mountain to mansion in their ski boots tottering, but continuing! On and on. They had to continue, time was of the essence as they say, and so they did.
Chapter 2
Courtney & the A.lien stopped in grand junction, co to finally try the infamous Dorito-taco at Taco Bell! And they had several of course, but realized that after such time spent eating tacos, the two were quite late to the event, 24 Hours of Utah. They purchased a Monster & downed him, and sped off to the exit of desire.
Chapter 3
Instead of taking the less interesting highway into moab, ut, Courtney & the A.lien drove along hwy. 128.This was a good choice, seeing as it was seductively quiet, rolling, longer. When you hurt & you choose to go longer magic may befall. Shadows fell from cliff to lolling water between them. They ended down a dirt road, kicking dust, entering the camp for the 24 hours of Utah, Courtney's first event for the endurance company. Right away it was: build tents, celebrate birthdays, eat cake, fall asleep dusty, hard. A few hours later, for an early morning start, the event would begin.
Chapter 4
It was dark still, the sky the blackest blanket in the darkest room with the brightest and most abundant veil of stars. Bulbs burned eyes, strung at the corners, fingers desert-night cold. Racers woke more ready than groggy, were checked in. Coffee brewed from the makeshift stovetop, oatmeal, breakfast for champions. The race began: an out and back course through dust, trail, mountain faces. Courtney and the A.lien worked the day through, even toting jugs of water to the halfway point which racers cheered over, thanked them for doing, though they themselves had been running for close to 12 hours.
Chapter 5
Some people won, some families cheered their fathers, one guy had a mustache shape shaved on the back of his head. The A.lien helped keep a strong runner awake by running beside him at night. Awards were given. Tents were packed up. Cars loaded. The A.lien took off down the county lines alone, an easier load to carry. Courtney hitched a ride, dusty as hell, thankful for help, missing the ache in tail of her.
Epilogueish
The story takes place in the spring of 2012. I chose the pseudonym "A.lien" because the desert through western colorado & utah, especially at night made me feel like I was in anotherworld, and because I don't like to address others in my stories in case they think the story sucks.
Chapter 4
It was dark still, the sky the blackest blanket in the darkest room with the brightest and most abundant veil of stars. Bulbs burned eyes, strung at the corners, fingers desert-night cold. Racers woke more ready than groggy, were checked in. Coffee brewed from the makeshift stovetop, oatmeal, breakfast for champions. The race began: an out and back course through dust, trail, mountain faces. Courtney and the A.lien worked the day through, even toting jugs of water to the halfway point which racers cheered over, thanked them for doing, though they themselves had been running for close to 12 hours.
Chapter 5
Some people won, some families cheered their fathers, one guy had a mustache shape shaved on the back of his head. The A.lien helped keep a strong runner awake by running beside him at night. Awards were given. Tents were packed up. Cars loaded. The A.lien took off down the county lines alone, an easier load to carry. Courtney hitched a ride, dusty as hell, thankful for help, missing the ache in tail of her.
Epilogueish
The story takes place in the spring of 2012. I chose the pseudonym "A.lien" because the desert through western colorado & utah, especially at night made me feel like I was in anotherworld, and because I don't like to address others in my stories in case they think the story sucks.
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