Jack Braking Prohibited (Otherwise Untitled)
#58 of Short Stories
A ferret keeps the van going.
~ The coyote was roused from her nap when the rattling thrum of the engine cut out to be replaced with an irregular thumping of road noise. "Bwuhhuh?", she inquired.
~ To her left, the ferret driver was appropriately rushed but not yet panicked as he scanned over the dashboard for a quick assessment of recent events. "It's okay, it's okay...", he replied with an urgency that struggled to make up for the lack of confidence.
~ Leaning over a bit to confirm that the minivan did, in fact, still contain fuel, the coyote settled back down into her seat to wait for the mustelide hijinks she had learned to trust for desired outcomes. "No engine power, on the highway. That's something more to dream to, than to wake up with."
~ The ferret feigned laughter, trying to keep the pair calm as he gently engaged the clutch pedal and knocked the shifter out of gear. The thumping of road noise calmed down somewhat, once the engine braking ceased. "We've still got electricity. Perhaps now it's a hybrid." He gave the key a ginger turn, the dashboard indicators pulsing dim while road noise drowned out the starter's whirring.
~ With a deeply strained grin, the canine pretended to remain calm. "I'm buying drinks at the next stop." The engine flared back to life, as the cars behind began to pass the van with urgency fueled of frustration and exhausted patience.
~ "Coffee", the ferret replied as he coaxed the minivan back into the fifth gear to crawl back up to a proper cruising speed.