HARMONY

Part 32 "Kidnapped?"

"I still think Fred's totally creepy," Claire said. Sitting in the cab of the 18-wheeler, she again adjusted her legs to the side of the gear shift. "And like The Hills Have Eyes weird."

"And you woulda rather walked through the desert?" Sophia looked out the passenger window of the trucker's cab parked behind the 7-11. With her long nails, she pulled at her braid.

"At least he called the tow truck," Claire said. "But, he just so like, sketchy."

"Humph. Even if he is a creeper, he aint more than 100 pounds and probably 89 years old," Sophia said. "But he sure takes forever to get one slurpy."

The neon lights flickered and mimicked the final rays of the setting sun.

Claire recrossed her legs. "That's because he's like making deals to sell us on the sex trade market and he's like totally negotiating for the best price."

"Girrrll, I would snap that cracker in half before he sex trades me." Sophia looked at the highlighted map again. "Next stop is Phoenix and creeper said our bug's being towed there and it should be fixed. If it ain't fixed, we're rentn' a car."

"I so want a convertible."

"You're not getting no convertible." Sophia put the maps away. "Hey, is that our Fred talking to the black man?"

Claire sat up straight and craned her neck. "Oh my god, that's a pimp. We are so sold!"

"He ain't got enough swagger to be no pimp, but he does look serious about what he and Fred are talking about."

"Shit. They're both walking this way."

"Just chill. He could be an old friend."

"Or a bitch-smacking drug dealer."

Sophia sized him up. "Ya. Don't like it. He's no good."

Claire kicked her bag with her foot. "I got my creeper spray," she whispered back.

Sophia nodded as the driver's side of the cab door opened. Fred spit on the ground, then wiped his stubbly chin with his hand. His flannel shirt and faded jeans were so cliché, it made him seem that much-more legit. The black man stood beside him and gave a gold-toothed smile.

"This here's my friend LeRoy," Fred said. "He'd like to join our little party and ride along a while."

"Where's he gonna sit?" Sophia said.

"How about on your lap Sugar?" LeRoy said. His thin arm patted his thigh.

"We're outta here." Sophia pushed open her door and hopped to the ground. Claire slid to the end of the passenger's seat, but Fred jumped in and grabbed her arm.

"Just hold on a minute," Fred said. "There don't need to be no lap sitting. LeRoy will ride in my cab in the back. You won't even know he's back there."

"Let me go!" Claire yelled.

Fred squeezed harder and LeRoy ran around the front of the truck with his eyes locked on Sophia.

"Let me go you mother fuckn' creeper." Claire kicked her bag toward Sophia.

Leroy pushed Sophia in with one hand and tried to pull the door closed with the other. With a fierce backhanded slap, Fred smacked Claire across the face, shut his door and started the truck.

"Dirty ass mother fucker!" Sophia sprayed LeRoy.

LeRoy grabbed Sophia's hand as she flipped the canister into Claire's lap. Claire blasted LeRoy, then Fred, then LeRoy again. LeRoy backed out of the cab, coughing and cursing.

Sophia slammed the door and pointed to Fred's body slumped over the steering wheel. "Push 'em out!"

Claire opened the door and gave Fred a shove with her feet. He dropped to the ground. The girls' eyes were burning, but without a direct hit, they could still see.

"Go! Go!" Sophia yelled. "Put it in drive and let's go!"

And they headed down the highway in their 18-wheeler.