“Thoughts My Only Companions”

“Shotgun,” said Eddy while looking down on Stu.

“Don’t be a jerk. I was here first,” said Stu.

“So? I was here last. Get out.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Don’t care.”

“Come on guys,” said Ivan from the backseat. “You know your nattering makes Fred uneasy.”

“Yeah, Stu, ‘your nattering makes Fred uneasy’,” Eddy mocked while gesturing for Stu to get in the back.

Stu slid in next to Ivan while Eddy wiggled, gleefully into the passenger seat.

Fred, a middle-aged man sitting in an outdated car, sighed loudly and put the car in drive.

Rolling out of the driveway, Ivan asked, “Everything ok, Fred?”

Fred nodded unconvincingly, and turned right at the first street.

“You don't seem right," said Stu. “What’s goin’ on?”

Fred shrugged and his Costco polo refused to fall back into place.

“I bet it’s his old lady,” Eddy jeered. “She’s been ridin’ his ass for weeks.”

Ignoring Eddy's irreverence, Ivan asked, “Is that what’s bothering you, Fred?”

“She’s just concerned about you,” said Stu, “Ever since you, … you know.”

“Went off the rails on a crazy train,” laughed Eddy.

“It’s not funny,” said Stu.

“I think it is,” said Eddy.

“Is that what’s going on, Fred,” Ivan asked. “Is she worried about you not taking your medication?”

Fred merged on to the highway and away from the conversation.

“Anything we can do to help?” Stu asked.

“By ‘we,’ he means he, I ain’t doin’ shit for you,” Eddy turned the radio up.

“Don’t be an ass, Eddy,” said Stu, “and, turn that down.”

“No and no,” said Eddy turning the music up louder and reclining his chair into Stu’s lap.

Ivan and Stu huddled together and whispered while Ozzy Osbourne blared from the speakers.

Suddenly, Eddy yelled, “Stop the car!” He threw his seat back to an upright position and killed the radio with a slap.

Slowing down and pulling over, Fred asked, “What?”

“That!” Eddy laughed and pointed to a young woman wearing cutoff jeans and a smile. Her long, brown waves frolicked on her freckles as she walked toward the car.

“This is a bad idea,” warned Stu.

“Shut-up, Stu. No one asked you,” said Eddy, rubbing his hands together and chortling.

The girl skipped through the gravel, tossing her beat-up backpack over her shoulder.

“Come on, Freddy, let’s do it. She hot!” said Eddy.

“Ivan? What do you think?” asked Fred.

“I don’t know. It seems like a bad idea, but it’d be rude to leave now,” said Ivan.

“Stu?” asked Fred.

“Don’t ask him,” interjected Eddy, “He ruins everything.”

“Thanks a lot, Eddy,” said Stu, “I was actually going to agree with Ivan. It’d be mean to leave her here, especially since you already stopped.”

Eddy looked over his shoulder in surprise, “Really?”

“Really,” said Stu, “Sometimes doing the right thing can coexist with doing the stupid thing.”

Missing the point of Stu’s moral teaching, Eddy turned back around as his door opened.

“Well, hello, Nurse!” Eddy whistled while sliding up and around the young woman.

Smiling, she dropped down next to Fred and said, “Thanks! I really appreciate the ride.”

“You’re welcome,” said Fred. “Where are you headed?”

“As far as you’ll take me,” she answered. “I’m trying to get to Cali by next week, so any miles you can shave off for me, would be fantastic!”

“I can shave off a few. Buckle up.”

Fred cautiously pulled back on to the highway, and she asked, “Where are you headed?”

Not sure how to answer or what the answer was, Fred said, “Not sure.”

“Not sure?” she giggled, “How could you not know where you’re going?”

“It’s complicated. I planned on going somewhere but started to change my mind.”

“You’re weird.” She laughed and rolled down her window.

Fred looked in the rearview mirror and saw Eddy making obscene gestures behind the young woman’s seat.

Stu slapped Eddy’s hands down and looked back at Fred for support.

As a distraction Fred asked, “Aren’t you nervous about hitchhiking? Isn’t it dangerous?”

“Nah. That’s just what parents tell kids to scare them. I’ve been hitchhiking for years, nothing ever happens.”

Fred nodded as if he understood, then continued, “What’s in California?”

“It’s a who, not a what, actually. It’s my dad. I haven’t seen him since I was a little girl. I’m super excited.”

In the mirror, Ivan turned to make eye-contact with Fred.

“Why haven’t you seen him in so long,” asked Fred.

“He was in prison,” she said as casually as if he had been on a long vacation.

Sensing Eddy’s reaction, and fearing he would say something inappropriate, Fred quickly said, “Really?”

“Yeah, he did some hard time, but now he’s out.”

“I bet it was hard,” said Eddy.

Stu glared at Eddy, and Ivan begged Fred with his eyes to make it stop.

“Sorry, about that,” said Fred.

“That’s ok,” she said. “It’s not your fault. Everyone’s responsible for their own actions.”

“True,” said Fred.

Stu crossed his arms and rolled his eyes while Eddy leaned forward.

“What he’d do,” asked Eddy.

“He killed someone,” she started. “He didn’t mean to, but … still.”

Looking disgusted, Eddy flopped back and said, “WTF?”

“He was an alcoholic. He used booze to self-medicate his mental health issues. Unfortunately, a bartender’s not an adequate replacement for a psychiatrist.” She chuckled.

“You got that right,” Stu agreed.

“And, apparently, a bottle of scotch is no substitute for anti-psychotic medication,” she added.

“Agreed,” said Ivan.

“One night, he went for a drive,” she paused and turned toward Fred, “He wasn’t sure where he was going.” She giggled.

Fred looked over at her. She was beautiful. Her youthful beauty was obvious, but the sincere truth in her tone was truly attractive.

“He drove, and he drank. Then, drank and drove. Then, drove his car right into someone.”

“Oh, come on! What a buzzkill,” complained Eddy.

“Super sad,” she continued. “He wasn’t that old. I barely remember him. He missed out on a lot of good times, but, then again, so did the person he killed.”

“Exactly,” said Stu.

She slapped her tan thighs and declared, “But, he’s out. He’s done, and we get to make up for lost time.”

“That sounds nice,” said Fred.

“It does, doesn’t it.” She had a daydreamy look on her face. “I can’t wait. I’ve missed him.”

Fred smiled and pulled into the bus station. Parking the car, he pulled out his wallet.

“Here,” he handed her a hundred-dollar bill, “This should be enough for a bus ticket to California.”

“What?” She laughed, “Really?”

“Yeah,” he smiled for the first time in a long time.

“You don’t have to buy me a ticket,” she said, still not taking the money.

“I know, but I’d like to. Hitchhiking is dangerous,” he winked at her. “I’d feel better if you didn’t.”

Smiling and taking the bill, she said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, “I’d drive you there myself, but I have to get home to my wife … and daughter.”

“You have a daughter?” Her dimples appeared from within her freckles.

“Yes, about your age.”

“That’s awesome.”

“Yes, it is.”

She shut the door, and Fred watched her skip into the station. He put the car in reverse, and Eddy yelled, “Hey, wait, I’m goin’ get back in the front.”

“No,” Fred said, “You’re not.”

Fred drove home alone in silence.