Collections of a Writer's Mind

All because of a truck

Writing Prompt Challenge
Day 22: Truck

  The blinding sun beat down on the cool day and old dirt road. Thick woods were on one side, and a long field of wheat on the other.

  A young girl, no older than 18,  was walking down the road, carrying a duffle bag and a backpack. Her walk was a slow, but steady pace. She kept to the side of the road beside the wheat field.

  Dark brown curls fell down her back from under her hat, and her mud brown eyes kept their focus on the horizon. Determination to get to the next town kept her going.

HONK!

  A car horn blared from behind her, and she noticed she had wandered out into the middle of the road.

  She got to the side, turned, and gave an apologetic wave. "Sorry!" The girl called out. She continued to walk down the road, her bag getting heavier with each step.

"You need a ride?" She looked over to see an old, red Chevy truck keeping pace with her.

"No, I'm fine." She kept her head straight hoping the guy, not much older than her, would get the hint and leave.

"You out here alone?" She rolled her eyes at the stupidity that radiated from the question.

  She stopped walking and he stopped the truck. "Do you see anyone else?" She gestured to the road that was deserted either way.

  He shook his head and laughed. "Sorry dumb question on my part. Hope in, I'll take ya where you need to go."

"I'm alright walking. Thanks." She turned to start walking again.

"No wait, wait. I'm being serious!" He called from the truck. "I'm not some crazy kidnapper or something. I'm being honest."

"Yes, because you couldn't possibly be lying." She looked at him for one hard second, and then let out a sigh. "If you don't mind to let me ride for a bit, sure."

  Her exhaustion got the better of her common sense as she slid into the passenger seat. Soon they were a lot further down the road then she would have, had she kept walking.

  He had two suitcases in the bed of the truck, but she held her bags close to herself. The awkward silence was stifling, until the stranger cleared his throat.

"So how far you been walking?" She tried to stay as close to the door as possible....just in case.

"Since Lakesville." His eyes widened as he turned to her.

"Seriously? That's like 30 miles or more!" He shook his head in bewilderment. "What'd you do camp on the side of the road?"

"No, I walked all night. Too afraid I'd get hit if I slept on the side." They sat there for a little while before he looked over at her again.

"Nice shirt, I like that." She looked down at the tee she'd had on for the past two days. It was old and faded with the word: supercalifragilisticexpialidocius.

"Thanks."

"Mary Poppins was my favorite movie as a kid. I'm not sure why though." She could tell he was only making small talk to keep it from being awkward. "What's your name, by the way?"

  She slightly smirked to herself. "Mary." She was afraid to tell her real name, since she still didn't know him. "You?"

  He rolled his eyes. "Bert."

"Nice." She looked out the window and saw a road sign.

NEXT TOWN: PRICETON

"You can drop me off at the next town so I can get a bus." He sucked in a gulp of air.

"That's fine with me, but the next town isn't for another two hours at the most."

"Two hours?" She automatically went into panic mode.

"Yup, but I'll do my best to shave off some of that time." She huffed.

  She took a second and looked around the cab of the truck. It was nice with tan leather interior, and a working radio. Just the vehicle she would like one day.

"I like your truck. It's pretty sharp." He patted the steering wheel.

"Yea, she's my baby." He lowered his voice. "Between you and me, she's getting a lot of miles." He chuckled, and she giggled.

  The girl yawned for the third time since she'd been in the truck. "You can sleep if you want, and I'll wake you up when we reach Priceton."

  She struggled with her thoughts. On one hand, so far, he'd been fine; he was a normal person. On the other hand, after she fell asleep he could do something. During her process of thinking she had leaned against the side of the truck, and slowly dozed off.

"Hey, Mary, wake up." She jumped up almost hitting her head on the roof. "You're in Priceton, you made it."

  He'd gotten out and walked around the truck, opening the door and helping her out.

They stood on the sidewalk in front of the bus station, she bought her ticket, And then she sat on a bench. He sat down beside her much to her surprise.

"Thanks for picking me up in your truck, but I'll be fine now." He smiled at her.

"I don't care to wait for a while. I need a break from driving anyway, no matter how much I love it." He lAid his head back, and got comfortable. "So what's your real name?"

  She sat staring at the bright red truck, but turned to him. "It's Jae." She answered hesitantly.

"Well Jae, I'm Conner, and I enjoyed your company in my truck."

  She slowly smiled to herself, but it was cut short when her bus pulled up. They both stood up and he walked her to the door.

"If you get the chance anywhere, you should call me. We can go for another ride, and maybe see how you drive this time." He handed her a slip of paper, and smiled.

"I may just do that." She stepped on the bus. "See ya Bert-I mean, Conner."

"Yea yea, later Mary." He laughed to himself and watched as she sat at a window in the back. He waved as the bus drove off, and shook his head as be walked back to the Chevy. "And all because of a truck."

  He smiled. Hoping this wasn't the last time he'd see her.