Marty Smith was born in Accident, Maryland, and his whole life reflected it: he missed the game-winning free-throw junior year, got chicken pox twice in grade school, even lost his mother to cancer. To break this supposed curse, he fled Accident as soon as he graduated high school.<br><br>Now, ten years later, Marty must face his past when he's forced to care for his suddenly-immobile father. Marty knows his close-minded hometown hasn't changed, but seeing an old classmate named Colten Williams makes him wish things were different. The more time he spends with Colten, the more he wants to stay. Accident isn’t so bad when viewed through Colten’s eyes.<br><br>Or is it just the curse lulling him into a false sense of security before it pounces again?

The Accident Curse

He hobbled off toward the shop—Cary’s Auto Parts—and I honked when he got to the door. He raised a hand and flipped up his middle finger. I laughed and pulled out of the lot.


A whole week and it still wasn’t old. Before long, Dad would be begging Fred to take him to work instead of me.


The Autumn Glory festival had started on Wednesday, but today was the day Colten got to show his cow. I was anxious to get down there and cheer him on.


The livestock shows were at the fairgrounds, but several other events ranged all over the Deep Creek Lake area. Even though the fairgrounds were only a few miles from Dad’s shop, traffic kept me from getting there quickly. When I finally pulled into the parking lot, I had trouble getting a space.


Not today, I prayed silently. Not now. The curse had kept itself in check the past few days and I feared it was storing up its energy for a final blow. No, no, no, I scolded myself. Keep positive. Colten will win this, hands down


Chapter 39