Riding the Bullet Page #4

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And when you finally got to the head

of the line what happened, Alan?

You chickened out, didn't you? Didn't you?

Yes.

When we got close...

and I saw how high it was...

how it turned over the top...

how they screamed when it came down...

I chickened out.

And she swatted me.

She wouldn't talk to me all the way home.

I never rode the Bullet.

Until now.

I stopped by the state line to get some beers

on my way home.

I was gonna give my girlfriend

this button as a joke.

But you probably know

what happened then.

Every Halloween, when the moon is full

and the wind is high...

you might see George Staub

on Old Ridge Road...

Iooking for souls. Like yours!

There's nothing like a funeral, huh?

Isn't that what you said?

Let me out. Please.

Do you know who I am?

You're a ghost.

Come on. You can do better than that.

Casper is a f***ing ghost.

Do I float in the air?

Can you see through me?

I'm a kind of messenger...

f***ing Western Union

from beyond the grave.

Guys like me come out

whenever the circumstances are right...

because we like to play with guys like you.

Because you are one of us...

the walking dead.

Surgeon did good work.

He must have liked you.

After all, it is your legacy, isn't it?

-What do you mean?

-You know.

Since your dad killed himself.

Do you know how many children of suicides

commit suicide themselves?

It's your heritage, man.

My father didn't commit suicide.

He was killed in a car accident.

-Is that what she told you?

-It's what happened!

No, Alan.

Let me tell you what really happened.

Splat!

He painted Miss November with his brains.

That's bullshit!

Bullshit? You know it's not.

You know what I think?

I think whoever runs things

likes to be entertained.

He always wants to see

if you're happy with what you got...

or if he can talk you into

what's behind curtain number two.

But everything has to be just right.

And tonight it was.

You out there all by yourself,

needing a ride in the night...

in the dark, with your f***ing wrist.

And your dad.

Your mother dying in the hospital.

She's not dying!

Yeah, right. Not yet.

None of this would've happened if I'd stayed

with the old man in the truck, would it?

That's hard to say.

Maybe he was dead, too.

There's no time to talk about that.

In five miles we're going

to start seeing houses again.

A few miles past that

is the Lewiston city line.

Which means you have to decide now.

Decide what?

Who rides the Bullet

and who stays on the ground.

You or your mother.

-What?

-I'm taking one of you with me, Al.

Who's it going be? You or your mom?

-What are you talking about?

-It's time for one of you to die!

The choice is yours. It's all up to you.

This sh*t isn't funny, man.

I'm serious.

I'm as serious as cancer.

You've got a choice to make.

You or Mommy.

So put on your thinking cap.

Hi.

We had peach pie, so I saved you a slice.

Come here, hon.

It's you and me against the world, Al.

What do you say, Al?

-Time's a-wasting.

-I can't decide something like that.

-It's not fair to ask me.

-I know.

They all say that.

But if you don't decide

by the time we get to that first light...

I'll just have to take you both.

Take us where?

Come on, that's an easy one.

This is your meat, Al.

Life obviously doesn't mean

that much to you.

You just love death, don't you?

The romance, the mystery,

the dark f***ing beauty of it.

What's the big deal? People die every day.

A shitload of people.

It is a big deal.

I see.

Have we had a little change of heart,

drama boy?

What was that,

just a cry for help, O Prince of Darkness?

-No!

-What the f*** were you thinking?

What's more valuable than your life...

all that there is in your future,

hell, right now?

Come on, just give mom the boot.

She's already got diabetes,

smokes like a chimney.

-She doesn't have long left anyway.

-This is bullshit!

Yeah, they all say that, too.

You know, I'd just as soon take two as one.

It's more points for me.

Go ahead, Alan, you're an artist.

Paint the walls, like I did.

Come on, Al.

We're running out of wilderness.

What do you say?

It's time to choose.

-I'm not going to do that.

-Okay. Then I'll do it for you.

No.

This isn't a request, Al baby!

You're here for a reason.

It's not fair. You can't make me choose.

Hey, man, I didn't even have a choice.

You do.

I'd take it if I were you.

I'm only 21.

I've got a whole life in front of me.

48 is old. She's sick, real sick.

And it is only a matter of time.

Your mom worked her ass off for you.

All those sh*t jobs to put money away

so you could go to school.

Hell, so you could even eat.

Who the f*** are you anyway?

The angel on his right shoulder

or the devil on his left?

Then shut the f*** up!

Who's it going to be, Al?

You or Mommy? Or both?

No!

They're coming to get you, Barbara.

Just settle back and enjoy the ride, Son.

Why didn't you come, Al?

Why did you let me die all alone?

We never quite made it to Toronto, man!

Mom?

-Is that you?

-Of course it's me.

He brought me here.

You have to choose, honey.

You have to make the choice.

I can't do that, Mom.

You have to.

What's wrong with your hand?

You ripped the f***ing skin off of it,

that's what's wrong!

You can't run away, Alan.

And you can't kill what's already dead.

Now quit pissing me off

and make your decision!

Hurry, Al. Speed it up.

That's the first house.

If you've got something to tell me,

you better tell me now.

How do you choose?

How the hell do you choose?

I've had it with your nonsense!

Just you and me against the world, Al.

I honestly don't know what I'd do

if I didn't have you.

Make me proud, okay?

Happy birthday!

Now, Al. Now!

Is it going to be your mother or you?

Now, Al!

Take her! Take my Mom, don't take me!

Pleasant dreams, Al.

Where are you headed, son?

-Lewiston.

-That works for both of us. Come on.

Thank you.

Good luck, son.

I hope your mom's on the mend.

Thanks.

Did you ride the Bullet?

I rode that f***er four times.

You all right, son?

You come over all shivery.

I'm okay.

Thanks again.

Hi, I'm here to see Jean Parker.

I'm sorry, visiting hours end at 9:00.

She's my mother. She had a stroke.

I hitchhiked all the way

from Orono to see her.

We can make the occasional exception

for immediate family, I think.

Thank you.

Let's see, that was Parker?

Right. Jean Parker.

Let me call Dr. Higgins.

Okay.

He'll be here in just a minute.

Mr. Parker?

I'm sorry, Alan,

but your mother passed away at about 8:00.

Let's see, that was Parker?

Right. Jean Parker.

I've got to call Dr. Shustek.

-What is it?

-Hi, Dr. Shustek.

Jean Parker's son is here.

Okay.

Dr. Shustek will be right here.

Mr. Parker?

I'm not going to lie to you.

Your mother is a vegetable.

A rutabaga. A banana squash.

She's f***ed. And so are you.

Let's see. Here she is, in 487.

Let me call up and see

if it's okay for you to come up.

-Is she okay?

-Hang on a second.

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