105 miles

I got into the car and started the engine. Turning the corner I switched on the radio to hear this. I listened for a few moments and realised exposing my ears to anymore would result in me thinking about Neighbours all night. I drive through the residential area at 28 mph and the electronic box attached to the lamp post produces a smiley face. I press the tuner button and it tunes into this song.


I don’t mind it, it doesn’t repulse my ears to the point my ear drums turn inside out. Although, it’s not really me and so I sniff and press the tuner button again. There’s static for a few moments as I pull up to the traffic lights. My index finger pushes the button once more and finally it picks up one of those commercial radio stations currently playing an advert about wall tiles being on discount. I hate those adverts so turn down the volume and concentrate driving through the rain.

The boy racers are out tonight and they swarm me like lions circling a wounded antelope. It’s only a matter of time before one of them tries to cut me up or honks their horn so that I look at them only to be greeted by the middle finger. I remember that there’s a CD in the player that I had forgotten about so quickly turn back up the volume and press the button. It’s one of my mix CDs which makes me grin as I approach another set of lights. The racer to my left revs his engine in an act of machismo and an indication he wishes to rut with me like stags fighting for domination. The first song that plays on my CD is this and the tune reminds me of a few years back when I used to duel with my nemesis. The lights turn green and the boy racer speeds off as I remember to turn left and do so.

I think about my nemesis for a moment and grin to myself. The song changes to this one but nothing really pops into my head as I drive past a Tesco garage and glance at the petrol meter. Everything is good, just like Mr Jones.

The national speed limit sign means I can finally spread my wings and glide across the country road. There’s not a car in sight when this track starts to kick in. For some reason I begin to think about the 19th century when women wore corsets and the men wore those funny white wigs that judges wear. It’s a bit surreal but I reach the motorway and join on. INXS comes on as I stare ahead and notice that there are more silver cars than any other tonight. A couple of BMWs and Audis speed past me and I turn into the left hand lane to let a Ford Focus go past.

The CD begins skipping (it’s an old disc) disrupting Hutchence et al and finally deciding to settle down to this tune. I overtake something that resembles one of those cattle wagons and notice the sign for the services. My eyes briefly gaze at the petrol sign where quite a lot of juice has been drunk but I conclude that I’ll be alright. Another Chem Bros. track comes on and my ears perk up. I had forgotten they did this and now my index fingers are tapping the steering wheel and I’m shaking my head. I recall the video being one of my favourites because of the jelly fish and how they glowed with the beat. I thought that was really cool.

The travel news interrupts everything but I’m not in the mood so turn down the volume and carry on thinking about the glowing jelly fish. The silence also provides my mind to ask me a few random questions, like, ‘why haven’t I bothered to watch Season 3 of Heroes yet?’ or ‘If an early election is called will this mean it’s more likely that there will be a hung parliament?’ and of course, ‘I wonder how cold it is in Scotland right now?’ I purse my lips and decide that it’s just general information I’d collated through the day but feel obliged to answer them to myself. ‘You liked Heroes, more so than you liked Lost because more things happened. However, you got annoyed that Sylar didn’t die so haven’t been that bothered since. Hmm, I think there is more of a greater chance of their being a hung parliament if an election is called early. Yes, it must be bloody freezing in Scotland, right now.’

I notice my junction to turn off on isn’t too far now and decide to give the radio another chance. This time I find this song and settle with it. I haven’t heard it in a while and as it comes to an end I’ve turned off at J14 and am now slowing up to a roundabout. The light appears on the petrol meter so I decide to drive to the garage.

The next song on this radio station reminds me of something that gets played in Topman, over and over, again and again so I start pressing the tuner button. I see the garage and turn in whilst still trying to find something decent. The garage is surprisingly busy for around this time of the night. I find a bay that is free and quickly nip in. My hand begins to turn the ignition off when the tuner finds another radio station that begins playing this. My fingers let go of the key and I get myself comfortable again. I mean, this song is amazing and I haven’t heard it in years. I love it.

Someone beeps me from behind and I remember I should be getting petrol. Fuck it, it was worth staying in the car to listen to that song. I turn off the engine, fill up and drive home in silence.