The highways seemed to stretch straight into an unseen point into infinity. Hitch Hiking is not safe, sure, but it is the only way I can travel. I stop and work when and where I can, I do not have a car, cannot spare my meager earnings on bus fare or trains, so I am forced to live with hitch hiking. Truckers are usually safe, they are on the road for long, lonely stretches of time and are more than willing to pick someone up – if only for the conversation. And I can usually hold my own in conversation, I may be a bit poor, but I am not ignorant, I keep up with current events and I am a good listener. The skill of listening lends itself to insight that many others do not achieve, as they are so wrapped up in themselves. They miss out on the human drama.....lives that are intertwined with one another, and affecting each other in ways the average man does not even realize. I have become a student of life, learning from the experts......the average person.
This hot, muggy evening the truckers are few and far between. I have not even seen a car for the last 45 minutes and I am beginning to think I will be spending the night alongside the road. I keep walking west along the highway...the land is flat and there does not appear to be a place that I can crash for the night. The sun is beginning to set and I do need to be off the road before it gets completely dark. Watching the sky turn orange, I finally hear a low humming in the distance. I stop, turn around and wait.....sure enough a vehicle is coming. I stretch out my hand, thumb up, mentally crossing my fingers that are compassionate to strangers on the road. When the vehicle comes closer, I see that it is an old commercial van....you know, the kind with no windows except in the front. The van slows and I see that there are two occupants, both young guys.
They pull over to the side of the road just ahead of me and I walk up to the passenger door. The driver, a dark blonde with bright green eyes, leans over and offers me a ride. It is hot and I notice that neither of them is wearing a shirt. Ah, if only I could get away with doing the same thing!!! There are empty cola cans, chip bags, and t-shirts with some school logos casually tossed in back. Students on summer break.
I accept the offer and the passenger hops out to let me climb in. He is nice and tall a well built guy with the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. I am offered a cold drink and readily accept. I felt like I was dying of thirst, this is just what I needed. We introduce ourselves, the drivers' name is Doug and his friend is Evan. We offer brief explanations as to what we are doing out on this lonely stretch of back highway. They tell me that they are heading for Mexico, for a couple of months, ready to party, do odd jobs and soak up the local-color before returning to school at the end of the summer. Conversation slowly ebbs and I crawl into the back to stretch out. The heat from the day lingers past sunset, but the air from the windows does help cool my skin a bit. I am still awfully sweaty and would love to tear this soaked t-shirt off my body. I sleep a little; the hum of the engine lulls me. I feel the few beads of sweat trickle down my side to my back. I cannot get comfortable....it is too hot....so, I throw out my pride, and take of my t-shirt.....leaving me in my skimpy lace bra. I feel better already with the air flowing across my stomach and chest.
