Thunk..., Ca-Thunk

We were cheek by jowl as we crawled towards the Kosciuszko Bridge. I had just about reached the top of the on-ramp at 43rd Street when I heard--or felt--a thunk from the back of the car. Did someone hit me? I looked back over both shoulders. Didn't look like it. Ca-thunk. Driver's side, definitely. I pulled on the emergency brake and got out. Son of a bitch. A panel of some sort had blown up against the rear wheelwell, and the wind was holding it there there tight. I pulled it off and flung it to the non-existent breakdown lane. It felt strangely good to be outside the car on the BQE. Almost