My air conditioner had stopped working last week. I know I should have had it serviced but as it turned out I was stuck driving on one of the hottest days of the summer. I was lucky to have chosen my clothes correctly though. I dressed coolly in a white sports shirt and matching shorts. At least that was some relief from the heat.
I was a little aggravated though; my girlfriend and I had just gotten into another argument. It was nothing new however; we seemed to be getting more and more on each other’s nerves. If it wasn’t one thing- it was inevitably something else.
I swear it was over 100. All I could do was crank down the window and hope to catch a cool breeze once in a while from the breeze.
I turned off the interstate and noticed a teenager hitchhiking off the side of the road. The poor guy couldn’t have been anymore than 20 years old. There he stood- thumb up in the air hoping to catch a ride with the first car that past. At first I past by him but my guilt soon got the better of me. I circled back around and found him dabbing the sweat away from his brow.
“Where ya’ going?” I questioned the young blonde.
“Just across town to the shop and stop.” He said as he anticipated the ride and approached my car.
“It’s awful hot to be out hitchhiking- come on get in.”
His sad blue eyes clinched the deal. There was no way I could just leave this guy out here to suffer. After all, I was in his place many, many times when I was his age.
“What’s your name?” I questioned as he jumped in on the passenger side.
“Jerry- I am so glad you came around man. I felt like I was going to drop from heat exhaustion or something.”
“Hi Jerry, I’m Kenny- nice to meet you.”
I stuck out my hand for the customary handshake and gave him a quick once over. He looked like a pretty safe guy to me. He seemed to be the boy “next door” type. He had short blonde hair, blue eyes and a few freckles dotted the tip of his nose and the sides of his cheeks His typical surfer boy tan and build made it easy for me to give the guy a ride.
We turned back on the main road and headed across town. I never really picked up hitchhikers before and I never realized how uncomfortable the first few minutes were during the drive. For some unknown reason I was at a loss for words.
“Where are you headed?” Jerry asked.
“I just needed to get out, my girlfriend and I had an argument. So I didn’t feel much like sitting home if you know what I mean.”
“Well at least you have a girlfriend.” He kind of snapped back at me. “I haven’t had a date in three months. You know what that could do to a guy my age.” He laughed and then tossed his head back against the headrest.
The next few minutes were strange for me. I mean all of a sudden, and trust me when I say this, I found myself admiring this guy. Up until that moment, never in my thirty-three years have I ever experienced anything like the feelings I was having. For the second time in the span of a few minutes I found myself checking him out.
From his eyes to his shoulders then down over his chest to his crotch. I found myself mesmerized by him. I wanted to shake off the stare- really I did, but I found my eyes locked on the center of his crotch.
“Oh man.” He groaned. “You aren’t one of those guys that like to go around picking up other guys are you?” He said as he caught me looking.