Mason

I ducked down while still driving, which was stupid because I could barely see over the wheel.

Something moved above me, light and careful.

The roof flexed once with a low pop.

I screamed.

I'm not embarrassed to say that.

I screamed so hard my throat hurt.

My mom was still on the phone yelling, Tyler, talk to me!

I yelled, It's on the car!

Right after I said that, a face appeared upside down at the top of my windshield.

It was only there for maybe one second, maybe less, but I saw it clearly.

The coyote's head hung over the glass from the roof, upside down, its ears flat against its skull, its mouth open.

Its eyes were yellow and too bright.

I could see its teeth clicking together inches above the windshield wipers.

Then it slid off the passenger side and hit the ground.

I felt the car jump as one tire clipped something.

I don't know if I ran over its leg or tail or what.

There was a hard thump under the floorboard and for a second the car fishtailed.

I got it straight again and kept going.

My mom told me to drive to my uncle's place because it was closer than home.

My uncle lived off another road about 15 minutes away, not far from a small cluster of houses.