The Chronicles of a Farmhand

"It happens real fast."

This is the second episode in The Chronicles of a Farmhand short story series. Each story is a stand alone Auto Fiction based on my experiences working as a farmhand.

Wifey was the first to arrive.

I’d called Jake first, then 911, and then her—but I was only a mile or so from the house when it happened.

“Oh my God! Are you okay Michael James?”

“I’m fine, sugar. Come on, we’d better back up some more,” I said as Jake’s new Silverado pulled up—his driver’s door still wearing the dent from ole Jumper.

“Pull your Jeep over there out of the way,” I told her. “Park it across the road honey.”

I thought Jake would be more excited, but when he pulled up he didn’t even get out of the truck at first. When he let his window down, I could see his jaw was set tight and his stare was fixed on the burning harvester—an hour could’ve passed before he asked me where the fire extinguisher was.

“I threw it down over there after I emptied it,” I said.

“Good,” was all Jake said in reply.