THE LONELY DESERT 

By Tessa Harvey

    A terrible noise grated through Shayla's musings. No, not more problems. This was her special week's holiday. It was meant to be perfect. She thumped the steering wheel as the car ground to a halt. Then she bent over the wheel, her head on her arms and cried. Being nineteen and alone, doing boring terrible drudgery jobs at the clinic just to make ends meet. Men were getting fed up with her. She knew they were, but they would not take responsibility. Shayla just needed company. The irony was she desperately avoided having a baby - and now was in trouble because of a baby! It wasn't fair.

    She turned on the car radio. An incredibly huge object was hurtling through space at unimaginable speeds. Suddenly she realised she had company. 

    It was the people she had met before. They heard the news story as they approached. "Hell," muttered the man nearest Shayla's vehicle, "could be the end of everything. No-one heard."

    Shayla looked up, pleased, trying hard to remember their names. Unable to sleep, she had gone back downstairs to the warm conviviality of the little room in the pub. Surprisingly, no-one had bothered her and the other couple.

........Joan and Bill, that's it, she remembered, had gone. "Hi Joan, hi Bill!" "It's Phil," the man answered, annoyed, but the woman nudged him discreetly. "May we help?" she asked, politely. "Dunno," Shayla looked downcast. Her head was aching. "Too much to drink? Have you been crying dear?   

    "I was worried about that space thing. Anyway, my car has run out of petrol." "Come with us," they invited. "Not far to town. Someone can return for your car, No problems." 

    Phil had jump leads in his SUV and petrol, but did not mention this. Shayla grabbed her small tote bag, her phone, bits and pieces of water and food and settled in the comfortable rear seat. Joan joined her for company.

    Phil drove, still muttering.