Peter and Jennifer have known each other since they were kids at school, as teenagers they hung out together at the local mall, cuddled in the back row at the movies, they were like two peas in a pod, so it was surprising when Peter started going out with Lyn. Lyn was a totally different type of girl to Jenn, whereas Jennifer was more or less a thrill-seeking type of girl always wanting a piece of the action and lived for the adrenaline rushes. She loved to work out or be physically active; she enjoyed skydiving, snowboarding, tennis and most other sports. You would often find her snowboarding at high speed down a mountain in the winter months. On the other hand Lyn was just the complete opposite, more of a girly girl type of person, she whole-heartedly embraced her femininity. She enjoys being a girl and worked hard at it every day. Took care of her skin, washed her face at least twice a day, her favourite colour was pink, loved perfume, dressing in skirts, dresses and blouses, and talking about relationships and other activities which are associated with the traditional gender role of a girl. The moment Peter saw Lyn he believed it was love at first sight. There was no doubt he was very attracted to Jennifer but he was head-over-heals in love with Lyn. Six months after they met, after a whirlwind romance Peter and Lyn were wed. It was a fairy-tail wedding set in a beautiful garden surrounded by spring flowers. Jennifer was heart-broken, she liked Lyn but after the wedding they drifted apart. Jennifer met David at a party and felt there could be a connection in time. They went out a few times to parties, sports activities, even a few movies. However Jennifer`s heart was with Peter. BUT Peter was married. A year later and after David and she had been seeing each other two or three times a week, David asked Jen to be his wife. Jennifer accepted straight away, possibly without even thinking if she truly loved him.
Peter and Jennifer led totally different lives and saw each other rarely. However a couple of years after David and Jennifer`s wedding their paths did cross. It was a glorious day, sun shining, autumn leaves as far as the eye could see. There had been a barbecue at the local footy club to celebrate the beginning of the new season and everybody was invited. As David was on the football clubs medical team he and Jennifer attended and Peter being the team`s full-forward and one of the their top players he and Lyn also attended At first only simple greetings were exchanged but as the afternoon preceded and a few drinks were consumed Peter and Jennifer spent a little more time with one another. David, being a doctor received a call on his mobile stating he was needed back at the hospital as Joan Hendricks had gone into labour. David asked Peter if he would mind driving Jennifer home later. "No problem Dave, I will see that she gets home safely" Lyn had had a little too much to drink and decided to go for a walk to clear her head, leaving Peter and Jennifer to enjoy the barby together.
Small talk, laughter and more laughter was exchanged between new found friends and around five pm Jennifer asked Peter if he would drive her home. Peter seemed to be looking around and Jennifer said "I saw her walking out the gate with Thomo a couple of hours ago; they were heading in the direction of your place". I`ll pick her up from here after I get you home. "What are you driving these days Pete?" "Only the other day I picked up a 1968 VW beetle for a song, it is a great little car; I love them as you well know". "I never thought there was much room in them", Jennifer added "we were always really cramped in the back seat, there always seemed a lot more room in the front, do you remember" Peter just smiled, his head didn`t feel too good after 6 beers and all those chops smothered in tomato sauce.
"Remember this song Pete; it was our song ... remember?" Peter wasn`t sure where this conversation was going but feeling a little light headed he didn`t seem to care anyway. "Dave won`t be home for hours", Jennifer chipped in, "this is Joan Hendrick`s second baby and she has a habit of having long labours. Let`s take the back road and go up to the lookout for old times` sake, it`ll be fun?"
The back road was rough and narrow but the views when you eventually got to the top were spectacular. As they drove in silence Jennifer`s right hand was resting on Peter`s inner thigh and even though he was concentrating on the road ahead, his blood was heating up almost to boiling point. She leaned over and whispered in his left ear "Do you want to do it .... It`s getting dark and there aren`t any cars on the road. "Dam right I do", Peter said without thinking. "There is a space just up ahead about 2 clicks, can you wait that long", "I guess I will have too" she said.
Peter pulled the Vee Wee off the road and parked past the shoulder, giving plenty of room for another car if by chance one came along, Jennifer leaned over to the back seat and found a blanket to put over the driver`s window, "Can`t be too careful" she said. Within seconds his hands found their target and her shirt was almost off exposing one beautifully formed breast, Jennifer wasn`t wasting any time either as she fumbled with his belt buckle. There wasn`t any thought of Lyn and David, as they settled into perfect synchronization and although very cramped in such a small space, were enjoying their union together. "It has been such a long time" Jennifer said as she pressed herself against his naked body" "It bloody well has" Peter exclaimed.
A couple of kilometres behind Peter`s car was Trevor Long also coming back from the same afternoon gathering. Although Trevor was a good driver he tended to take silly risks, using his mobile phone while driving, sending a text or two and drinking the occasional beer at the wheel to name just a few. Tonight was no exception, when his phone sounded he reach into the glove compartment to retrieve it and took his eyes of the road for just a few seconds too many. By the time Trevor saw Peter and Jennifer`s car ahead it was too late to stop. Trevor`s vehicle was exceeding the speed limit and slammed squarely into the back of Peter`s Volkswagen.
At this moment in time Peter and Jennifer`s passion had reached its pinnacle, they were both at the height of their coitus. When we think about "true love", we tend to do so through a haze of rose-petal confetti. Peter and Jennifer, at this time were not seeing a haze of rose-petal confetti, more like a blinding white light of excursing pain. The moment Trevor`s car made contact with Peter`s, Jennifer`s pelvic girdle cracked and the dislodgement tended to cause Peter`s final thrust to be just that, ... final ... for a very long time. The magic word was expelled from both of their mouths at the same time. Both were in extreme pain, they were not able to think what may have happened. At that moment, their front door was opened and Trevor stood there in amazement. "Shit, this going to be hard to explain" he said stating the obvious. "You stay here", then realising what a stupid statement that was he added, "I will call the ambulance and the local doctor, you are going to need major pain control and the ambos might not have that on board". "Can you get it out Peter" Jennifer said with tears running down her cheeks. "No, when I move it the pain is unbearable; I have never experienced pain like this before. Fuck, what are we going to do? Do you think David will attend our accident, he goes out to accidents doesn`t he"? "Oh shit, he is the trauma doctor on call tonight", cried Jennifer "We`re dead" says Peter.
It took the ambulance fifteen minutes to arrive at the accident site. When people live in a small town (and Benalda certainly was a small town with a population of 8,000 residents), you can bet almost everyone knows one another and trying to keep this `accident` under wraps will be an impossible feat. It was six fifteen and daylight saving was still in place so there was still enough light for the ambos and police to work by.
Bob and Paul were first on the scene, these two ambo had about 75 years` experience between them and had seen it all in their lifetime of attending accidents. Bob came down from Sydney to Melbourne and didn`t like the climate so moved up to Benalda a year or two back. Paul has had overseas experience but wanted to come to Australia to get away from the cold in the UK. He has also been in Banalda for a couple of years. As they both attended to retrieve equipment from the back of the ambulance, Bob opened his mouth to say something and noticed Paul was smiling, this was usually something one usually didn`t do when attending an accident. "Shit Paul, how are we going to handle this" stated Bob, "I have never seen anything like it before. You know we are going to have to transport them both on the one stretcher, there is no way they can come apart" "We need a doctor up here pronto", Paul stated "they must both be in incredible pain. That green stick we gave them will wear off in no time". "Hey Bob, do you know who they are"?, sure Bob said, "Peter Green is the best full-forward in the Ovens and Murray Football League and Jennifer Moon is Dr David Moons wife, by the way guess who is on trauma call tonight". Bob turned and called Senior Constable Fields over. "Snr you know who the girl is don`t you?". "Yes, and I think I know what you are about to say. I will contact the hospital and have them keep Dr Moon down there, we don`t need any more trauma up here that we already have". "Right?". "Right" says Bob, "thanks for your help". "No problem I`ll do it right away".
By this time all available emergency vehicles were up at the crash site, Police had closed the road, two ambulances were in attendance. The second ambulance was attended by two paramedics, one male and one female. "Thank God for female paramedics" said Bob. "I will get her into the car with Jennifer, she may be able to calm her down". "It`s Peter I feel sorry for" says Paul, "Me too" agrees Bob.
Without moving the two injured parties the rescue teams comprising of fire officers, police search and rescue and ambulance paramedics were doing their best to dismantle the Volkswagon. The paramedics had given Peter and Jennifer two ampules each of penthrane for pain control and if the doctor from Benalda doesn`t arrive soon there will be hell to pay. At that very moment a hospital car could be seen making its way up the hill. Everyone held their breath as Dr John Stephens got out of the car. "Thank God" said Peter. Jennifer let out a sigh and said "We are not out of the woods yet, but at least there will be no extra problems tonight". "Peter, I am not sure how we are going to talk our way out of this, but we sure as hell will have to try".
Dr. Stephens held Jennifer`s hand and as he knew both Peter and Jennifer very well he said to her, "David is aware of the situation and has asked me to be your doctor for as long as you need treatment and rehabilitation in this case. I can help you too Peter as I don`t think Dr Moon would be too happy to be asked". "Thanks John, I appreciate that". "I am giving you both morphine, it should keep you pain free while you are transported to the hospital. David has gone home and has spent a little time to treat Lyn. Her sister will stay the night with her as she is most upset as you both can well imagine. "John", Peter said, "I don`t want any details at this point Pete, Let`s just get you both into surgery as soon as possible, I will be riding in the ambulance with you. It will be a slow ride as too much movement may cause problems for you Peter. Once in the operating theatre I will do what is necessary to separate you both. Peter you will most likely be in hospital for a while and Jennifer depending on the extent of your injuries will depend on your length of stay. Jennifer starts to cry, Jenn, I can`t really help you with David, this is something you are both going to have to sort out yourself just as you will have to do with Lyn Pete, but as your doctor I will help where I can".
Four years later: Peter and Jennifer were married and moved away from the district.
A look at life through the windscreen
A short story by Gary Thompson
"Ouch"
--The End--
This story is completely fictional and any resemblance to people living or dead in purely coincidental.
