It was a dark and stormy night ... well the end of one anyway. The sun had poked its head above the horizon but it was still cold and wet with a few showers hanging around after the storms the previous night. I was once again on my weekly road trip -- 3 hours of highway driving to the Sydney office -- listening to some music mix from the '90s. Brittney Spears, Sinead O'Connor, Michael Jackson, relaxing and enjoying the drive. I had bought a nice BMW 5 Series for the long trips, it was roomy, comfortable and quiet.
Just before Lake George something caught my eye and I pulled up quickly onto the verge, not even thinking about what I was doing. I immediately regretted it. Thoughts of lonely, single people in nice cars being lured by young women in distress so they could be hijacked and beaten by some drug crazed gang filled my head. I locked the doors, keeping a good lookout for any sign of trouble as the sodden looking girl approached.
Winding down my window I said, 'This isn't the weather for hitch-hiking ...'
She was soaked. 5'6, slim, mousey brown hair past her shoulders which looked straight but it was hard to tell because it was so wet. Hard to tell her age, maybe 17, wearing tight jeans and a soaking wet dark blue windbreaker with some band name that I heard of. Cute face but she looked like she had been crying. 'Are you OK, can I help?'
Her response was almost a whisper but I heard her say, 'I need to get to Sydney please'. 'Please' told me straight away that she was polite and in trouble. I can't help it but the sight of a young girl in distress tugs on my heartstrings and I knew I just had to help.
'Hop in. I've got a towel in the boot, we need to get you dry and warm'.
'I'm heading to Sydney -- my name is Steve and if you don't mind being a passenger I can gladly drive to Ryde and drop you at the train station'.
'Thank you', she said and tried the door handle on the still locked car. I apologized, unlocked the door, popped the boot and got out to get the towel.
When I climbed back in the car, she was sitting in the passenger seat, seat belt on and clutching her backpack to her chest. I could see her more clearly now. She had big eyes that had clearly been crying, nice lashes, no make-up and just a hit of freckles danced across her gorgeous face She wore stud type earrings in her pierced ears, two in the one I could see. I bet when she smiled it would melt me! She was a long way from smiling at the moment.
I handed her the towel and said, 'Dry your hair, the heater will help with your clothes and get some warmth into you.'
We sat in silence as I continued the drive. She was busy drying her hair, bunching it over one shoulder and squeezing the moisture out of it. I could see out the corner of my eye that there was a little curl in her hair and the colour was lighter than I first thought. I could also see that she had a flat stomach and perky little breasts. I secretly hoped she was 18!
We were about twenty minutes away from a service centre and I suggested we stop so she could change into something dry before we continue the drive. I learned that her name was Sophie and was escaping from her mother's live-in boyfriend who 'Was an arsehole'. She didn't elaborate.
When we stopped, Sophie changed into red and black track pants, blue t-shirt and a dark blue jumper with a wide and deep neck hole and long sleeves. She had on sandals. Not the best combination but at least it was dry. I couldn't help but stare at her well-shaped hips and backside as she climbed back into the car and then she smiled ...
'Thank you' said Sophie as she reached around and drooped her back-pack in the back seat. She was still clutching the towel and dabbing at the hair which was drying rapidly.
'My pleasure', I said.
'Now tell me why a young girl is walking alone on the side of a highway in the rain and accepting lifts from strange older men.'
'I can't stay at home', she told me. 'Mum has changed, her boyfriend doesn't treat her nicely and we had a big argument last night so I left'
I'm also not that young, I'm 19 and should be living away from home.
'My auntie is in Sydney so I am hoping to stay there for a while while I sort myself out.'.