The Way of the Linden
Every time I remember that day, a mysterious cold runs through my body and cuts my breath.
When the phone rang, I was about to get into bed. When my father answered, I knew by voice, serious and taciturnal that something serious was happening.
My mom hadn't been home for a week. She had to travel 120 kilometers to care for my grandfather who was ill and because she was better off, we were waiting for her at home the next day.
The call was from my grandfather. My mom had fallen and fractured her leg. My dad decided we'd go there immediately. I'd go with him, since he didn't plan to leave me alone at home and I'd miss school tomorrow. But it was an emergency and my absence would be more than justified.
After all, 120 kilometers are not that many, and in two hours, at the latest we'd be over there.
My grandfather refused to make the road at night. I don't know what superstition chickened him out. But country people have those things. Like my dad insisted. Grandpa warned him not to stop at any time near the linden. No matter how much women or children beckoned him.
I always thought it was a security issue. I thought there would probably be thieves and robbers hiding there to circumvent the unsuspecting.
That's how we put some stuff in our bag and after stopping at a gas station to load gas, we went on our way.
We take the freeway. It was late and there was very little traffic. Then we go out and take a route surrounded by fields. You could almost see everything as the moon illuminated the groups of trees and animals with a bright reflection.
After a long stretch we took a dirt road. It would not be more than four kilometers, but we had to quickly pass the path bordered by linden. The fog began to descend quickly wrapping the car.
As we moved forward, we saw clearly how a woman with two children holding hands stood in the middle of the road.
My father continued without slowing down. - Dad. You're gonna run them over. I yelled.
My father slowed down without stopping, and we immediately saw with astonishment that the woman and children were in the back seat without saying a word.
My dad was white as a paper and I was speechless. How'd they get in the car? Who were these people?
My dad took the wheel hard, but he was shaking.
When we went two kilometers, the woman said, “Here we get off. Please stop.
My father stopped the car. They opened the door, thanked and disappeared.
When we arrived at the house, my grandfather guessed from our fad faces what had happened. Obviously he had already experienced it and invited us with a glass of fresh water.
Despite seeing my mom, with her cast on her, but well, neither my dad nor I could sleep that night.
When we returned home the next day, we saw three crossings at the edge of the road. They marked the place where the woman and her children had gotten out of the car.
End