Between the Sheets

Hitchhiker

"I don't like you driving all the way home by yourself. You sure Candy can't come with you," mom says in one breath over the phone,

I had called her earlier to let her know that Candy wouldn't be able to make the trip. As of now, she laied in her bed, a wet wash cloth over her head. A bucket beside her bed. She looked awful even for Candy. Her once perfect tan was now a pail pasty white, and her bouncy blonde curly hair was pulled back into a gressy bun on top of her head.

"She's been up all night throwing up mom there is no why she can make the trip" I tell my mother "I'll be fine, besides it'll give me some time alone" I tell her

"I really don't like this. Maybe you should wait another week before coming home," mom says

"I need to this week, mom. I have too much going on the coming up weeks. Besides, I don't know when I will get the chance to come home again before graduation. I want to come see you and Daddy. "

"Alright, just be careful. I still don't like you making the trip alone,"

I smile. "I need to go. I have class before I leave out. Love you, mom, and I'll call promise. "

"Love you too," she says. I wait until she hangs up before putting my phone away.

I head toward my last class for this week. Then, letting Candy know I am leaving, I head out onto the open road. I called my mom from the gas station. I stop at telling her I'm on my way. I could hear even then the worry in her voice.

"Please be careful, Jasmin," she tells me

"Always," I told her before hanging up and moving on.

It's a quiet ride, and I know it's going to be long. My family doesn't expect me to get there until at least noon the next day. I will be stopping at a hotel along the road.  But for now I enjoy the afternoon scenery.

The sun is just going down behind me. The sky is a blue, purple, and pink color. The trees sway as I pass them by some already starting to trun from a sunners green to an autumn red, yellow, and brown. Some of the leaves have already fallen to the ground, leaving the tree bare.

It wasn't quite cold out yet, but it's not hot enough to still be running around in summer sundresses. I wore a quarter length sleeves, a dark red dress that came mid thighs. It was apparent for the weather. The deep v neck showed off just a little of my cleavage while keeping me modest. I had drug out my knee-high black boots to wear with it. Probably could have worn my black sandles with it. My long black hair, I brushed out and wore down. I didn't wear makeup or anything. I wasn't trying to look good for anyone. I was just headed home.

I had the heat on to knock out the cool chell from the wind. My window was cracked just a tiny bit so that I would have that air blowing into my car to keep me from falling asleep. No music. I needed to be able to hear everything around me.

As I trun down an old country dirt road, I see a silhouette standing over on the corner of the road. As I get closer, I can see a tall man with his thumb out. A suitcase by his feet and a guitar case thrown over his shoulder.

"Don't stop," my mother voice says, "we don't pick up hitchhikers."

I slow, looking into my rearview mirror at the stranger he looks harmless. And tired, I look at the clock it reads eleven o'clock.

"Hitchhiker's are all murders or robbers," my mothers voice says

I smile. My mother has always been paranoid about everything. She was even paranoid when I started college.

I stop, and the stranger runs up to my window. I roll it down enough to hear what he has to say, and that's it.

"Where you headed?" I ask him