Yellow Mama Archives

Darrell Petska
Home
Adair, Jay
Adhikari, Sudeep
Ahern, Edward
Aldrich, Janet M.
Allan, T. N.
Allen, M. G.
Ammonds, Phillip J.
Anderson, Fred
Anderson, Peter
Andreopoulos, Elliott
Arab, Bint
Armstrong, Dini
Augustyn, P. K.
Aymar, E. A.
Babbs, James
Baber, Bill
Bagwell, Dennis
Bailey, Ashley
Bailey, Thomas
Baird, Meg
Bakala, Brendan
Baker, Nathan
Balaz, Joe
BAM
Barber, Shannon
Barker, Tom
Barlow, Tom
Bates, Jack
Bayly, Karen
Baugh, Darlene
Bauman, Michael
Baumgartner, Jessica Marie
Beale, Jonathan
Beck, George
Beckman, Paul
Benet, Esme
Bennett, Brett
Bennett, Charlie
Bennett, D. V.
Benton, Ralph
Berg, Carly
Berman, Daniel
Bernardara, Will Jr.
Berriozabal, Luis
Beveridge, Robert
Bickerstaff, Russ
Bigney, Tyler
Blackwell, C. W.
Bladon, Henry
Blake, Steven
Blakey, James
Bohem, Charlie Keys and Les
Bonner, Kim
Booth, Brenton
Boski, David
Bougger, Jason
Boyd, A. V.
Boyd, Morgan
Boyle, James
Bracey, DG
Brewka-Clark, Nancy
Britt, Alan
Broccoli, Jimmy
Brooke, j
Brown, R. Thomas
Brown, Sam
Bruce, K. Marvin
Bryson, Kathleen
Burke, Wayne F.
Burnwell, Otto
Burton, Michael
Bushtalov, Denis
Butcher, Jonathan
Butkowski, Jason
Butler, Terence
Cameron, W. B.
Campbell, J. J.
Campbell, Jack Jr.
Cano, Valentina
Cardinale, Samuel
Cardoza, Dan A.
Carlton, Bob
Carr, Jennifer
Cartwright, Steve
Carver, Marc
Castle, Chris
Catlin, Alan
Centorbi, David
Chesler, Adam
Christensen, Jan
Clausen, Daniel
Clevenger, Victor
Clifton, Gary
Cmileski, Sue
Cody, Bethany
Coey, Jack
Coffey, James
Colasuonno, Alfonso
Condora, Maddisyn
Conley, Jen
Connor, Tod
Cooper, Malcolm Graham
Copes, Matthew
Coral, Jay
Corrigan, Mickey J.
Cosby, S. A.
Costello, Bruce
Cotton, Mark
Coverley, Harris
Crandall, Rob
Criscuolo, Carla
Crist, Kenneth
Cross, Thomas X.
Cumming, Scott
D., Jack
Dallett, Cassandra
Danoski, Joseph V.
Daly, Sean
Davies, J. C.
Davis, Christopher
Davis, Michael D.
Day, Holly
de Bruler, Connor
Degani, Gay
De France, Steve
De La Garza, Lela Marie
Deming, Ruth Z.
Demmer, Calvin
De Neve, M. A.
Dennehy, John W.
DeVeau, Spencer
Di Chellis, Peter
Dillon, John J.
DiLorenzo, Ciro
Dilworth, Marcy
Dioguardi, Michael Anthony
Dionne, Ron
Dobson, Melissa
Domenichini, John
Dominelli, Rob
Doran, Phil
Doreski, William
Dority, Michael
Dorman, Roy
Doherty, Rachel
Dosser, Jeff
Doyle, Jacqueline
Doyle, John
Draime, Doug
Drake, Lena Judith
Dromey, John H.
Dubal, Paul Michael
Duke, Jason
Duncan, Gary
Dunham, T. Fox
Duschesneau, Pauline
Dunn, Robin Wyatt
Duxbury, Karen
Duy, Michelle
Eade, Kevin
Ebel, Pamela
Elliott, Garnett
Ellman, Neil
England, Kristina
Erianne, John
Espinosa, Maria
Esterholm, Jeff
Fabian, R. Gerry
Fallow, Jeff
Farren, Jim
Fedolfi, Leon
Fenster, Timothy
Ferraro, Diana
Filas, Cameron
Fillion, Tom
Fishbane, Craig
Fisher, Miles Ryan
Flanagan, Daniel N.
Flanagan, Ryan Quinn
Flynn, Jay
Fortunato, Chris
Francisco, Edward
Frank, Tim
Fugett, Brian
Funk, Matthew C.
Gann, Alan
Gardner, Cheryl Ann
Garvey, Kevin Z.
Gay, Sharon Frame
Gentile, Angelo
Genz, Brian
Giersbach, Walter
Gladeview, Lawrence
Glass, Donald
Goddard, L. B.
Godwin, Richard
Goff, Christopher
Golds, Stephen J.
Goss, Christopher
Gradowski, Janel
Graham, Sam
Grant, Christopher
Grant, Stewart
Greenberg, K.J. Hannah
Greenberg, Paul
Grey, John
Guirand, Leyla
Gunn, Johnny
Gurney, Kenneth P.
Hagerty, David
Haglund, Tobias
Halleck, Robert
Hamlin, Mason
Hansen, Vinnie
Hanson, Christopher Kenneth
Hanson, Kip
Harrington, Jim
Harris, Bruce
Hart, GJ
Hartman, Michelle
Hartwell, Janet
Haskins, Chad
Hawley, Doug
Haycock, Brian
Hayes, A. J.
Hayes, John
Hayes, Peter W. J.
Heatley, Paul
Heimler, Heidi
Helmsley, Fiona
Hendry, Mark
Heslop, Karen
Heyns, Heather
Hilary, Sarah
Hill, Richard
Hivner, Christopher
Hockey, Matthew J.
Hogan, Andrew J.
Holderfield, Culley
Holton, Dave
Houlahan, Jeff
Howells, Ann
Hoy, J. L.
Huchu, Tendai
Hudson, Rick
Huffman, A. J.
Huguenin, Timothy G.
Huskey, Jason L.
Ippolito, Curtis
Irascible, Dr. I. M.
Jaggers, J. David
James, Christopher
Jarrett, Nigel
Jayne, Serena
Johnson, Beau
Johnson, Moctezuma
Johnson, Zakariah
Jones, D. S.
Jones, Erin J.
Jones, Mark
Kabel, Dana
Kaiser, Alison
Kanach, A.
Kaplan, Barry Jay
Kay, S.
Keaton, David James
Kempka, Hal
Kerins, Mike
Keshigian, Michael
Kevlock, Mark Joseph
King, Michelle Ann
Kirk, D.
Kitcher, William
Knott, Anthony
Koenig, Michael
Kokan, Bob
Kolarik, Andrew J.
Korpon, Nik
Kovacs, Norbert
Kovacs, Sandor
Kowalcyzk, Alec
Krafft, E. K.
Kunz, Dave
Lacks, Lee Todd
Lang, Preston
Larkham, Jack
La Rosa, F. Michael
Leasure, Colt
Leatherwood, Roger
LeDue, Richard
Lees, Arlette
Lees, Lonni
Leins, Tom
Lemieux, Michael
Lemming, Jennifer
Lerner, Steven M
Leverone, Allan
Levine, Phyllis Peterson
Lewis, Cynthia Ruth
Lewis, LuAnn
Licht, Matthew
Lifshin, Lyn
Lilley, James
Liskey, Tom Darin
Lodge, Oliver
Lopez, Aurelio Rico III
Lorca, Aurelia
Lovisi, Gary
Lubaczewski, Paul
Lucas, Gregory E.
Lukas, Anthony
Lynch, Nulty
Lyon, Hillary
Lyons, Matthew
Mac, David
MacArthur, Jodi
Malone, Joe
Mann, Aiki
Manthorne, Julian
Manzolillo, Nicholas
Marcius, Cal
Marrotti, Michael
Mason, Wayne
Mathews, Bobby
Mattila, Matt
Matulich, Joel
McAdams, Liz
McCaffrey, Stanton
McCartney, Chris
McDaris, Catfish
McFarlane, Adam Beau
McGinley, Chris
McGinley, Jerry
McElhiney, Sean
McJunkin, Ambrose
McKim, Marci
McMannus, Jack
McQuiston, Rick
Mellon, Mark
Memi, Samantha
Middleton, Bradford
Miles, Marietta
Miller, Max
Minihan, Jeremiah
Montagna, Mitchel
Monson, Mike
Mooney, Christopher P.
Moran, Jacqueline M.
Morgan, Bill W.
Moss, David Harry
Mullins, Ian
Mulvihill, Michael
Muslim, Kristine Ong
Nardolilli, Ben
Nelson, Trevor
Nessly, Ray
Nester, Steven
Neuda, M. C.
Newell, Ben
Newman, Paul
Nielsen, Ayaz
Nobody, Ed
Nore, Abe
Numann, Randy
Ogurek, Douglas J.
O'Keefe, Sean
Orrico, Connor
Ortiz, Sergio
Pagel, Briane
Park, Jon
Parks, Garr
Parr, Rodger
Parrish, Rhonda
Partin-Nielsen, Judith
Peralez, R.
Perez, Juan M.
Perez, Robert Aguon
Peterson, Ross
Petroziello, Brian
Petska, Darrell
Pettie, Jack
Petyo, Robert
Phillips, Matt
Picher, Gabrielle
Pierce, Curtis
Pierce, Rob
Pietrzykowski, Marc
Plath, Rob
Pointer, David
Post, John
Powell, David
Power, Jed
Powers, M. P.
Praseth, Ram
Prazych, Richard
Priest, Ryan
Prusky, Steve
Pruitt, Eryk
Purfield, M. E.
Purkis, Gordon
Quinlan, Joseph R.
Quinn, Frank
Rabas, Kevin
Ragan, Robert
Ram, Sri
Rapth, Sam
Ravindra, Rudy
Reich, Betty
Renney, Mark
reutter, g emil
Rhatigan, Chris
Rhiel, Ann Marie
Ribshman, Kevin
Ricchiuti, Andrew
Richardson, Travis
Richey, John Lunar
Ridgeway, Kevin
Rihlmann, Brian
Ritchie, Bob
Ritchie, Salvadore
Robinson, John D.
Robinson, Kent
Rodgers, K. M.
Roger, Frank
Rose, Mandi
Rose, Mick
Rosenberger, Brian
Rosenblum, Mark
Rosmus, Cindy
Rowland, C. A.
Ruhlman, Walter
Rutherford, Scotch
Sahms, Diane
Saier, Monique
Salinas, Alex
Sanders, Isabelle
Sanders, Sebnem
Santo, Heather
Savage, Jack
Sayles, Betty J.
Schauber, Karen
Schneeweiss, Jonathan
Schraeder, E. F.
Schumejda, Rebecca
See, Tom
Sethi, Sanjeev
Sexton, Rex
Seymour, J. E.
Shaikh, Aftab Yusuf
Sheagren, Gerald E.
Shepherd, Robert
Shirey, D. L.
Shore, Donald D.
Short, John
Sim, Anton
Simmler, T. Maxim
Simpson, Henry
Sinisi, J. J.
Sixsmith, JD
Slagle, Cutter
Slaviero, Susan
Sloan, Frank
Small, Alan Edward
Smith, Brian J.
Smith, Ben
Smith, C.R.J.
Smith, Copper
Smith, Greg
Smith, Elena E.
Smith, Ian C.
Smith, Paul
Smith, Stephanie
Smith, Willie
Smuts, Carolyn
Snethen, Daniel G.
Snoody, Elmore
Sojka, Carol
Solender, Michael J.
Sortwell, Pete
Sparling, George
Spicer, David
Squirrell, William
Stanton, Henry G.
Steven, Michael
Stevens, J. B.
Stewart, Michael S.
Stickel, Anne
Stoler, Cathi
Stolec, Trina
Stoll, Don
Stryker, Joseph H.
Stucchio, Chris
Succre, Ray
Sullivan, Thomas
Surkiewicz, Joe
Swanson, Peter
Swartz, Justin A.
Sweet, John
Tarbard, Grant
Tait, Alyson
Taylor, J. M.
Thompson, John L.
Thompson, Phillip
Thrax, Max
Ticktin, Ruth
Tillman, Stephen
Titus, Lori
Tivey, Lauren
Tobin, Tim
Torrence, Ron
Tu, Andy
Turner, Lamont A.
Tustin, John
Ullerich, Eric
Valent, Raymond A.
Valvis, James
Vilhotti, Jerry
Waldman, Dr. Mel
Walker, Dustin
Walsh, Patricia
Walters, Luke
Ward, Emma
Washburn, Joseph
Watt, Max
Weber, R.O.
Weil, Lester L.
White, Judy Friedman
White, Robb
White, Terry
Wickham, Alice
Wilhide, Zach
Williams, K. A.
Wilsky, Jim
Wilson, Robley
Wilson, Tabitha
Woodland, Francis
Woods, Jonathan
Young, Mark
Yuan, Changming
Zackel, Fred
Zafiro, Frank
Zapata, Angel
Zee, Carly
Zeigler, Martin
Zimmerman, Thomas
Butler, Simon Hardy

From a Buick-Kind-Of-Place

 

Darrell Petska

 

 

Garrett’s boozy eyes seemed to bleed down his cheeks when I admitted I’d wrecked his ‘vette. He cocked his arm, snarling—then froze, before bolting to the bathroom to spew and groan pathetically.

We weren’t friends. The tech school had stuck us randomly in the same dorm room. We barely tolerated each other. I drove a classless Buick. He had the ‘vette. I tried to study. He lived to party. Girls seldom looked my way but chased after him. The ‘vette was his pickup line. He was smooth “city” in sunglasses and expensive clothes. I was rough “country” trying to escape the heartland.

I’d never have taken his ‘vette for a drive if it hadn’t been for Sara Parker, a cosmetology student. For a couple weeks I’d watched her from a distance in the cafeteria. She looked so fresh and friendly, I just had to risk it: she said yes, she’d go out! After I’d asked her, I realized that meant driving my classless old Buick.

The night we were to go out, friends of Garrett picked him up. He never drove his ‘vette when drinking was in the works.

There on his desk lay his keys, and just beyond the front door gleamed his cherry red convertible with white leather seats and 4-on-the-floor.

Sara Parker would never have to see my shame! If we made it to a second date, I’d be out shopping for a nicer car.

“He lets me use it. Mine’s in the shop.”

I’d been in it once during orientation week, while we tried to decipher who we’d been saddled with. “You can take it for a spin sometime.” His insincerity showed, even before our rocky relationship began playing out.

As I jerked through the gears, I worried she could tell I’d never driven it before. “It’s a little temperamental.” Handling a car like that, I wanted Sara to feel like my queen, her hair flaring in the wind as the mile posts flew by.

Out on the open road, I took that ‘vette up to 80—she raised her arms to the wind. Then 90, 95—her growing look of alarm slowed me down and we stopped for shakes at Dairy Queen.

Sara Parker actually liked me. I’m sure she did. When we finally said goodnight, we didn’t kiss, but the touch of her hand took my breath away.

“Let’s do this again.” Her words! In that moment, gravity released me.

Garrett wouldn’t return till well past midnight. I took the ‘vette out again, thinking I’d better add a little gas. Three blocks from campus, I got rear-ended by a drunken cowboy. Hat. Boots. Pickup. I’d merely stopped at a light. Not my fault. The cop agreed.

Of course, change had to follow: a different roommate for sure, maybe insurance complications or getting a job if I got stuck paying for the ‘vette. And I wondered what Sara Parker might think.

A couple minutes after Garrett’s bout of puking, he lurched out of the bathroom: “Fucking car thief!” He came at me with his fists, but he was so drunk, I avoided his blows merely by ducking and backing away. The scene was almost laughable.

“Garrett, calm down! Let’s just talk.”

“Go to hell!” Next, he lunged at me. I shoved him aside, again not very difficult. Unfortunately, his face smacked the corner of my desk. He came up oozing blood and wiggling a tooth.

He should’ve quit right there. I had a good 25 pounds and two inches on him.

“Sit down, alright? I’m sorry, but it’s just a damned car!”

It was even drivable, though barely. I’d secreted it in a corner of the dorm lot. What else could I do with it?

I’d never seen a face turn as livid as his. The fool pulled out a pocket knife and fumbled with the blade. I’d seen him drunk before, which usually meant flopping into his bed and remaining there till noon next day. But a knife?

“C’mon, man, you’re being ridiculous. Just sit the fuck down...”

Garrett pointed the knife at me, etching circles in the air as he inched closer. I suppose my face looked worried. Had his usual bluster hidden a maniac? I glanced nervously about our room, looking for a means of defense.

Abruptly, he tossed aside his knife and began laughing insanely, pointing at my face. “You should see...how you look...oh my god...what a chickenshit!” He almost doubled over, laughing at me, or maybe he felt like puking again. Whatever the case, I stepped forward and socked him squarely in the face. Cupping his nose, which also began trickling blood, he sagged to the floor, just a moaning, ineffectual drunk.

Then I thought of my parents, who were paying my tuition. I thought of Sara Parker and her blonde hair whipping in the wind. And I thought of Garrett’s mangled ‘vette, his messed-up face, and the school’s discipline code. The truth of my situation became clear.

I stepped over Garrett to reach my closet, jammed full my suitcase and backpack, grabbed the Buick keys, and drove away.

Our local feed mill gave me a job keeping their books. Had I ever really gone off to school? Aside from the registrar officially kissing me off, I heard nothing from anyone. Insurance, cops, Garrett, Sara—no one. But the warmth of Sara’s touch never escaped my hand. Was she still there? Was he?

Almost a year later I drove back there to find out. Their names were in the student directory. Same dorms, same rooms! Pity the poor guy who ended up sharing a room with Garrett.

His red ‘vette sat in front of the dorm, looking good as new.

I had no intention to show myself. I’d just hang around campus for the weekend, hoping to get a glimpse of Sara, because...I don’t know, maybe I still had a chance...?

I kept to my car, parked a ways off in the lot. Finally, late Saturday afternoon, I got lucky. Garrett strode out his door, got in his ‘vette, drove one dorm down, and honked three times. Out the door came—holy Hell!—Sara Parker, who hopped with a broad smile into his ‘vette. She had purple hair.

He backed out of his parking stall and turned the car in my direction. Sara tossed her purple hair in the breeze. In his shades, Garrett looked as arrogant as ever. I remembered then what I hated most about him: his simpering lips.

As he drove nearer, I pulled forward in my Buick. Seeing who it was, he stopped. I didn’t. Sara glanced nervously at Garrett, then back at me.

Neither speeding up nor slowing down, I just steadily approached the shiny grill of his precious ‘vette—like a knife waved in his face! He shifted abruptly into reverse, tires squealing. They squealed again as he sped toward another exit and disappeared.

I backed around and slowly headed home, sorry I hadn’t gone on and smashed his ‘vette again, and with it the nothing-ever-goes-wrong car of mine. Surely that would’ve been the kick in the ass I need to bust free of this Buick-kind-of-place I’m stuck in.



Darrell Petska is a writer from Madison, Wisconsin. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Flash Fiction Magazine, Flash Frontier, Bird's Thumb, Right Hand Pointing, Boston Literary Magazine, Potato Soup Journal, and Loch Raven Review. See his published work at conservancies.wordpress.com.

In Association with Fossil Publications