The sun blazed mercilessly over Route 22 as Baker Asphalt Inc’s crew rumbled into position. The air shimmered with heat, and the scent of hot tar mingled with the earthy aroma of freshly turned dirt. For Charlie Baker, foreman and founder of the company, it was just another sweltering summer day.
“Alright, let’s get it done before the temperature hits a hundred!” Charlie barked, wiping sweat from his brow. His team sprang into action. Miguel guided the dump truck backward while Reggie manned the screed controls on the paver. Jenny, the youngest crew member, checked asphalt temperatures with practiced precision.
They had just begun laying the first stretch when a shadow zipped across the ground. Charlie glanced up instinctively but saw nothing except a lone seagull wheeling in the blue sky.
“Must be the heat playing tricks,” he muttered.
An hour later, Jenny called out, “Boss! Look!”
Above the distant hills, a sleek, silver car soared through the sky, glinting in the sunlight like a mechanical bird. Its tires were tucked under its chassis, and shimmering blue energy trails pulsed from its underbelly.
“What in the world…” Charlie whispered.
Before anyone could speak, another flying car whooshed by, closer this time, its futuristic engine humming softly. Miguel dropped his shovel in disbelief.
“Is that…real?” Reggie asked, mouth agape.
The team stood frozen, watching as more flying cars streamed by. Some were streamlined and futuristic, while others looked oddly retro, like classic models given the power of flight.
Jenny pulled out her phone, but there was no signal. “No alerts or news…should we call someone?”
Charlie shook his head slowly. “Let’s finish the job. Whatever’s happening, it’s above our pay grade.”
They returned to work, though their eyes kept drifting upward. Occasionally, a car would glide past, its passengers appearing just as bewildered as the crew.
By mid-afternoon, the sky was empty again, as if the strange parade had never happened. The crew finished paving the stretch and packed up.
As they drove back to the yard, Miguel broke the silence. “Think anyone will believe us?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Charlie said, staring at the horizon. “But if they ever need a runway paved up there…Baker Asphalt’s ready.”
