𝐓𝐄𝐃𝐃𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐑 , 𝚝𝚌𝚖

𝐨𝐨𝟐. 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐓

The van pulled onto the highway — sputtering as it accelerates. Dinah had tied her hair back into a ponytail, not knowing how Sally or Pam were dealing with their long hair down. She had tied one of her old bandannas around Franklins wounded hand — she picks up her book and continues reading with a focused look on her face. "I'm about half ready to call a cop." Kirk says to no one in particular and Franklin seems to whine as he speaks, "I could get tetanus. You see how rusty that old razor was?" Jerry joins into the conversation, "That's the last damn hitchhiker I ever pick up." Pam had gone back to her horoscope book, she sits down next to Franklin, "Hey, listen to Franklins horoscope — 'the news travel difficulties, long range plans and upsetting

persons around you could make this a disturbing and unpredictable day, the events in the world are not doing much either to cheer one up.'" Jerry scoffs, "That's perfect." He says sarcastically. "Read Sally's, she's a Capricorn." He continues but Sally shakes her head, "No don't, read Dinahs — she's had a crazier day than me. She's a Gemini." Pam shrugs, "Okay...let's see — oh, 'today will be the day that you find something that you keep for the rest of your life, but, you may have to do something drastic in order to get it.'" Dinah looks up, "What does that mean?" Pam sighs, "I don't know — but you'll find out soon I guess." Franklin gulps, "Maybe we ought to find a doctor — I don't think I've had a tetanus shot in a long time."

Sally reassures her brother with a smile, "I think you'll be alright — till we get to Houston." Franklin looks at Dinah to get her reassure but she had already gone back to her book — she feels his gaze and looks up with an awkward smile, "What she said."

—🫀—

They soon stop for gas — so the van pulls into a combination cafe and service station. Several cars and pickup trucks are parked in the dirt yard beside the weathered, raw wooden buildings. The van stops beside a gas pump — and Sally, Pam, and a reluctant Dinah hop out of the van and walk to the restrooms. Meanwhile, Kirk climbs into the front seat, he nods at the rusted gas pump, "Think that thing works?" Jerry shrugs, "There's some people inside." Through the windows — several people are seated at tables. They all look rather strange — though they are clear enough to see from the van, they are very apparent to not be normal. Kirk shakes his head, "Strange." Jerry looks at his friend, "I'll go see if I can get somebody."

Suddenly, the screen door to the cafe swings open and a man in his sixties exits. He blinks — his eyes adjusting to the bright sun — before walking over to the van. Franklin speaks, "Here comes somebody." The old man walks over to the drivers side and stops, standing there, "Howdy." Jerry greets and although the man doesn't respond right away, he rests his arms on the edge of the window and pokes his head into the van before looking around — he's inches from Jerry's face as he does. Kirk and Franklin nod hello, "Howdy boys, what can I do for ya?" He asks — a strong southern accent lacing his tone.

Jerry answers him, "We need some gas." The old man nods, "Ya need some gas, huh?" Kirk nods, "Do you take credit cards?" The man narrows his eyes, "What kinda credit cards?" Kirk answers him swiftly, "Texaco." Quirking a brow, the man responds to him, "This look like a Texaco?" Kirk shakes his head, now unsure of himself, "No, I just-I thought.." The old man interrupts Kirk and instead speaks directly to Jerry, "How much ya got?" Jerry gives his a tight lipped smile, "We're about empty." The man nods, "Just come in here on some fumes, that it?" Jerry sighs, "You're right. We're low on fumes, we got maybe an eighth of a tank." The old man nods at his words, "That's too bad.." Jerry looks at him, "Yeah, why's that?"

"My tanks empty. Seen the transport on the way out though..it'll be back through sometime this afternoon and give me some gas." Is his answer. Jerry speaks after, "By this afternoon, huh?" He asks. The old man nods with a yellow teethed smile, "Yep, you boys is welcome to stick around — I got some good barbecue." Franklin whispers to Jerry, "Ask him how to get out to the old Franklin place." He says, referring to his grandfathers place. Jerry does as he says and the old mans brows quirk, "Franklin place?" Franklin jumps into the conversation, "It's a big old stone house up on a hill — I think maybe you take that road back there." The old man shrugs.

"Yeah, maybe. I seen somethin' like that up that way. You boys don't wanna go messing around no old house now — those old things is dangerous — you liable to get hurt." Jerry gives him a smile, "We'll be careful." The old man stands up straight, pulling his arms away from the window, "Well now ya oughta not go messing around other folks property. They's some that don't like and don't mind letting you know with a little buckshot." Franklin shuts down his words, "My father owns it." The old man raises his brows, "That's ya daddy's place...huh. Well, I think you boys ought to stick 'round here and have some barbecue. That transport won't be too long." As he finishes speaking, the girls come out of the bathroom.

Sally tries to get Jerry's attention now — the three standing yards away behind the old man. The old man sees Jerry's attention shift so he turns to look at the girls. He faces the girls, "Howdy." He says to them and although Pam and Sally are shy, Dinah greets him on behalf of them, "Hello." Sally looks at Jerry, "Could I get a Dr. Pepper? It's only a quarter." Jerry shrugs, "Might as well." The old man looks to Dinah, "Hot enough for ya?" The blonde giggles, "Oh yeah — 'specially in the van." He nods with a smile before turning to Sally, "They's machine." He motions towards said machine. He starts towards the cafe now, not before saying to Sally, "Ya holler at me now if it don't work." He then addresses Jerry, "Them girls don't wanna go messing 'round no old house — you best stick 'round here."

Pam walks over to Sally to get herself a drink also but Dinah wanders around by herself — not too far, but enough that she couldn't be seen from the van. There weren't any cities for miles — all of it was road from what she could see — and as she walked, a cassette fell at her feet, "Oh, I'm sorry." A gravelly mans voice said as Dinah picked up the cassette, "Led Zeppelin huh? Not bad." She handed him his cassette and she took in his rather strange appearance — he looked like the hitchhiker from earlier except he was strikingly pale, almost grey with what looked to be a wig on his head resembling a hairstyle like Ozzy Osbourne's.

"You like 'em?" The man questioned and Dinah took a second to respond, "Led Zeppelin? Oh yeah, they're alright." At her words, he became giddy, and it was now apparent to Dinah that he was holding a wire hanger in his hand. Placing the cassette in a bag he had, he held out his hand — his nails dirty — but Dinah still shook it, "My friends call me Chop Top." Dinah smiled at him, "Well, Chop Top, my friends call me Dinah." He nodded, "Rock n roll." Before Dinah could respond, Sally called for her. With a nod, she let go of the mans hand and held up a peace sign, "I gotta get going, nice meeting you." Chop Top held his own hand up with a peace sign, "See you 'round — Dinah."

—🫀—

Walking back to the van — Dinah sees the blood smear left by the hitchhiker and she grimaced. She climbs into the van and closes the door, "I got some barbecue." Jerry says as he hands her a greasy brown bag and she instantly grabs it — she was very much so hungry — and she pulled what looked to be a chicken wing out of the bag. Biting into it, she could've groaned from contempt. It was the best meat she had eaten in a while.

—🫀—