Joe always worked on the morning shift at the Dippin' donuts. But today one of the night shifters had fallen ill and he had been sent to replace him. He was known by the company to be the best man under pressure, he liked the hustle and bustle of breakfast time. He met new people everyday, some friendly cops and others friendly gangsters. He couldn't understand the rivalry between the factions, but they both seemed very alike and, he was confident, could get along. Tonight was different, he thought, not being used to the loneliness. Seeing nobody outside the diner, he pulled out a magazine and curled up beside the cash register. Something bothered him. A unyielding presence swept over him. He couldn't help but look out the window again, feeling as if someone was watching him. Of course no one is here, he thought. The manager leaves at 10 o'clock. It is 2 right now. Peering through the foggy glass, with the 24/7 neon sign to aid him, observed closely. Recent rainfall had swept the city and large lakes of water had formed around the restaurant creating an eerie glow reflecting off the pale moonlight. But no customer. Again, he resumed his magazine. several minutes later, while reading about a new gun store opening, several cold chills traveled down his spine he looked up, but felt helpless, as if he were sinking into the earth.... darkness surrounding him....
Joe woke up with a start. It was a dream, he thought, but at that moment he noticed something peculiar. The clock had been turned ahead to 5 o'clock, the time his shift ended.
He nervously scanned his surroundings, the lights had been shut off. Why not take advantage of this, whoever turned this up wanted me to leave, I guess. As Joe got up from the cash register box he was suddenly frightened, he scanned the room frantically, and found the light switch at the far end of the diner. His heart dropped. He was not going to let a dark room scare him. Joe was a skeptic, but now his thoughts were moving in reverse. He stepped over the counter. Carefully lifting his feet over a puddle of ketchup, he started for the light. Taking a whiff of the air he stumbled back to the box. He thought he had smelled something, something evil... his mind drifting, Joe couldn't maneuver in time to avoid the ketchup and slipped, banging his had on the counter. Crying in agony, he turned around and saw the puddle of "ketchup" he took a sniff, and gagged, it reminded him of a corpse, it smelled terrible. Suddenly, his sixth sense told him to get out of the restaurant... FAST! He made a break for the door, not even punching in his time card, because only one thing mattered now, to escape! pushing through the doors, he burst out into the darkness. The moonlight showed a clear path to his car, a cheap maroon sedan. But right now it looked like the presidents limousine. Finally he thought, the moon is on my side. He fumbled with his keys, trying to pick out the right one. His searching was interrupted by a blinding, yellow light.
Joe screamed, then caught himself. Why should I scream, it could be a rescuer! He ran toward the light, shielding his eyes.
"HELP!"
"HELP!"
Then hearing a car engine rev, he stared in horror as a black hearse came bearing down on him! He ran, running for his life! he started searching through his keys. This time he found the right one. Stabbing the keyhole with all his force, he jumped in just as the hearse came barreling over a curb and smashing into his trunk. It flew open, crumpling against the rear window. Joe steered the car onto surface streets trying to avoid the hearse. He had no time to think, or even plot his course home. He increased speed on the highway, trying to put some distance between the two cars. The hearse seemed to have some kind of supernatural speed, because it matched ever single move, juke, brake, or slalom Joe could think of. His speed increased... 100... 120... 140... It was as fast as his car could go. The hearse suddenly lunged for his car, swerving in like a hawk. It rammed Joe's car from the side, and stayed there for a moment. It was the first time he was able to get a good look at the car. It was quite old, probably from the early sixties, it was a Cadillac, and just when Joe tried to get a good look at the drivers window, the car accelerated to 160 and sprayed muddy water over the front end of Joe's car. Joe's pulse was so loud, he could hear it beating blood through his veins.He finally had a moment to think. Who was that crazy driver? Why was that car so old? What would I be eating for breakfast? He slowed his car to 50 miles per hour and headed for a repair shop. The hearse had taken out one of his headlights, so Joe had to struggle to see ahead. He looked closely and saw the hearse had left a little parting gift. Up ahead he spotted a coffin. And another one. Joe was horrified, what would be inside the coffins? He drove up to a large one and stepped out. It was darker, he checked his watch. 3:50. he looked around the road, it didn't seem familiar. Then again, night made everything unfamiliar, and spookier. He shivered and opened a casket shutting his eyes. A cold feeling went over him again and he felt like he had just released pandora's box. He opened his eyes. There was a horrible smell, but looking into the casket he saw nothing. He had a strange feeling to open the others, a voice in the back of his head, a shrill, squeaky one urged him on. Methodically opening each casket, and finding nothing but the terrible stench, he walked through the puddles back to the car. Looking over the dashboard, he notice lights across the street he hadn't seen before. He looked closely, reading out to himself,
"Simon's Body Shop"
The strange neon lights and the flickering lamppost beside it attracted Joe's interest. He slowly pulled up into the open garage. I could use a body shop! I don't want to go back home and have my wife see this mess. If I could get this thing fixed before dawn then I can make up an excuse for being late. He wondered if Mr. Simons or whoever owned this place would believe his story about the hearse. He heard shouting from inside the building as he pulled up.
"HEY JOHNNY GET THAT CHROME ON THERE WILL YA!!!"
"GET THE CUSTOM WAGON OVER ON THE MECHANICS AISLE BOB!"
Joe left his car behind to investigate the voices. As he headed in the direction of "johnny" and Bob" he heard a grunt and a high, metallic voice
"Going somewhere?"
Joe wheeled around on his toes frozen in fear, but laughed when he saw it was just a man wearing a scream mask.
"Aha! fooled ya didn't I, eh sonny?" said the man
Joe observed him, he was of medium height and build, and his arms were tattooed with various imaged of cars.
"I see you have spotted my tattoos, well don't be surprised, I don't believe in naked girls, stuff like that. I have my cars here. That's enough pornography there!" he guffawed. Joe decided he liked the man, it was the first person he had seen in hours! Joe then asked whether or not he could get his car fixed up within 7 o'clock.
"My wife will have a cow seeing this mess."
"Sure, I will be glad to, in fact you'll get your car back within the next hour! Oh and I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Mr. Henshaw.
"Who is Mr. Simons?" Joe asked. Mr. Henshaw seemed reluctant to answer
"He died." he said simply.
Joe decided not to push on the matter, and Mr. Henshaw was soon back to his old, enthusiastic self. They pushed the sedan over the mechanics pit and began to inspect the vehicle.
"Had a little accident on the way here." Joe explained.
"I see," Mr. Henshaw worked for a couple minutes and exclaimed
"Well, this car could be systematic,
hydromatic,
ultramatic...
Why couldn't it be Greased Lightnin'!
We'll get some overhead lifters and some four barrel quads, oh yeah
Keep talkin', whoah keep talkin'!
Fuel injection cut off and chrome plated rods, oh yeah
I'll get her ready, I need to get her ready!
With a four-speed on the floor, they'll be waitin' at the door
You know that ain't **** when we'll be gettin' lots of ***
Greased Lightnin'
Go, Greased Lightnin'
You're burnin' up the quarter mile
Greased Lightnin', go Greased Lightnin'
Go Greased Lightnin'
You're coasting through the heat lap trails
Greased Lightnin', go Greased Lightnin'
You are supreme
The chicks'll cream
For Greased Lightnin'
Go go go go go go go go
We'll get some purple pitched tail lights and thirty inch fins, oh yeah
A palomina dashboard and duel-muffler twins, oh yeah
With new boosters, plates and shocks
I can get off my rocks
You know that I ain't braggin', she's a real ***** wagon
Greased Lightnin'
Go, Greased Lightnin'
You're burnin' up the quarter mile
Greased Lightnin', go Greased Lightnin'
Go grease lighting you're coasting through the heat lap trials
You are supreme the chicks'll cream for grease lightning
Go, Greased Lightnin'
You're burnin' up the quarter mile
Greased Lightnin', go Greased Lightnin'
Go grease lighting you're coasting through the heat lap trials
You are supreme the chicks'll cream for grease lightning
Lightning, lightning, lightning
Lightning, lightning, lightning
Lightning"
Mines better than talons