//------------------------------//
// Sunday 
// Story: Flash Sentry Calls an Uber 
// by MythrilMoth 
//------------------------------//

Flash Sentry sighed, shoulders slumped, as he watched the tow truck haul what was left of his beloved Mustang up on its winch. The second tow truck was having considerably more difficulty with the compact SUV that had T-boned him; its front looked like a busted accordion, and one of its wheels was bent outward at an awkward angle. Nearby, a woman his mother's age was consoling a shaking, nervous girl with short seafoam-green hair, who looked like she was about to fall to pieces.

The tow truck driver walked up to him, a toothpick sticking out his mouth. "Only got room for them," he grunted. "Got a ride you can call?"

Flash nodded. "I'll call an Uber," he said. The driver grunted and trudged off. Flash sighed again, watching the trucks rumble off with the two young women and his baby, then thumbed through his phone until he found the Uber app. Once he'd requested a ride, he found a relatively clean stretch of curb on which to sit down and wait.

Thirty minutes and a whole lot of Candy Crush later, a rust-red minivan glided smoothly up to Flash, its electric motor humming silently and its headlights' dim glow shedding soft light onto the asphalt. Flash stood up, gathering up his guitar and his tote bag, and climbed into the minivan. He started as he looked toward the front and nearly tumbled right back out.

The man behind the driver's seat was wearing a full-body elk costume, complete with massive, pointy antlers. "Uhh..."

"Boomer wants to fly away, away from here, yes yes yes?" the elk-man asked raspily, his voice deep and harsh.

"Umm...y-yes?" Flash said hesitantly. "Uhh..."

"Boomer stands around spitting too much!" the elk-man grunted. "Hurry up! Nancy Jane wastes glimmer while you spit!"

"R-right," Flash said hastily, swallowing. *What the hell IS this?!* He settled into the seat, stowed his things, and buckled in; the elk-man pulled smoothly away from the curb and turned around, guiding the minivan back onto the road. "Are you...going to a convention or something?" he asked hesitantly.

"Guitar boomer will not spit while riding in Nancy Jane," the elk-man grunted. "No leaving garbage or gum or turds or things on the floor or seats."

Twenty minutes later, the minivan coasted to a stop outside Flash's house. He gathered up his things, thanked the odd driver, and got out. He had barely even closed the door when the minivan took off again. Shaking his head, Flash went around to the back door and let himself in.

In the kitchen, his father, Vance Sentry, looked up at him, a pained grimace on his face. "Got your text," he said. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," Flash said, rolling his shoulder and wincing. "Just really shaken up. And bummed out. The car's totaled."

Vance sighed. "Well, all we can do is hope her insurance will take care of it."

"Yeah, but now I'm screwed for getting to work and back," Flash said miserably. "I'd just gotten my summer job, too."

Vance grunted. "Well, I can get you to work, but you're on your own for getting home," he said. "Looks like you'll be using up your first paycheck on Uber."

Flash sighed. "Great," he muttered. "The Uber drivers in this town are total kooks."

Vance chortled. "Come on, son, it won't be all that bad..."