Best viewed in Full Screen.

"I Saw a Werewolf on the Freeway" by C. Jake Cordova I was driving down the freeway when I saw it… the haunted house on the back of the faded blue pick-up truck. Old wooden hinges, cracked corners, tile missing from the sealing and ghosts swirling through the windows. It was definitely a haunted house, and it was definitely headed east on Interstate 80. A werewolf was leaning out the top window in a casual way. His gaze found mine and for a brief moment we stared at each other, locked in a game of "who's crazy? Am I really seeing this?" The werewolf smiled in a slow, steady manner. His teeth were sharp and yellow, his eyes a hint of red. Time seemed to stop as we looked upon each other. His gaze dared me to jump out of my car and rumble. My gaze simply said, "Stay cool." Bats fluttered around the window. They didn't seem to bother either of us. "Who's gonna win?" I heard the werewolf ask although I never saw his lips move. "Think you can take me? I know where you live." Another quick moment passed in a slow, steady whisper as every hair on the back of my arms and neck stood on end. Something deep inside of me knew he was serious. "Who's going to win?" he asked again and turned his gaze away. The red brake lights of the car in front of me snapped me back into the game of "driving" and I slammed my foot down on the brake, just missing a fender-bender. The pick-up truck sped down the next off ramp and out of sight. I watched it as best I could, trying to validate what I had seen. But the truck was too far away now. Nearly out of sight. I made it safe and sound to my neighborhood, stopping only at the convenient store for a Dr. Pepper. I cautiously watched everyone I saw, expecting to see the werewolf's yellow teeth smile back at me. But it didn't happen. Instead, I pulled into my driveway, rolled up the car windows, locked the doors and sprinted for the house. Once inside, I locked the doors, shut the windows and left all the lights on. THE END 05-20-2002 top