Slight Detours | Wattys 2015

(10) ALLY

A little while ago, I’d come to realize a rather important piece of information. The scent I’d believed to be “spoilt eggplant” was, in fact, the crusty aroma of marijuana. How I had come to this conclusion, you ask? Marvin and Tully had been smoking it right in front of me.

I was disgusted at first, appropriately tying a piece of bandana around my nose and mouth before attempting to ask them for directions. However, nearing them, I had discovered that they were just as confused as I was. They were distraught, clueless, and most of all, alone.

This abrupt fascination had led me to ask questions about their life prospects. I hadn’t expected much, obviously. I mean, what was I supposed to expect from two filthy guys smoking drugs?

But, to say the least, I was surprised by what I’d heard. Together- in very distinguished North Carolinian accents- they had narrated a journey full of wonderfully shocking episodes and stupid mistakes that had my elbows glued to the counter top.

At the end of it, I’d come to see Marvin and Tully for who they truly were- living, breathing nomads. Having left their hometown at the tender ages of fourteen, the open road was their home. And yet, in spite of such a way of growing up, they were absolute gentlemen.

Without even asking, they’d offered me a ride to wherever I pleased with the simple condition of the destination being within the boundaries of North America.

So, it was then that I’d told the problem, relaying my situation to them which was fairly embarrassing considering I’d previously prided myself on fact-based, knowledgeable decision making. My current demographical position did not attest to that by a long shot.

Other than a quiet snort when I’d mentioned my friendly- this part, they refused to believe no matter how many times I’d denied us being in a relationship- companion, Jared, their reaction was, if anything, encouragingly plain.

Wasting no time, we struck a deal. We’d go wherever they went until we reached Boneyard Bill in Nevada, get the truck fixed, and finally leave them as they were. I didn’t know what was in store for us after that. I guess I was taking a leap of faith, here. I was leaving it all to fate.

I was nervous. Who wouldn’t be?

But, in truth, I was also kind of relived that I was like so many people out there. I was a normal teenager that didn’t have a clue as to what the hell she was doing. And, God, it felt great.

“Ally,” Jared nudges my shoulder, shocking me out of my reverie.

“Yeah?” I inquire. He places a hand on my shoulder to stop me, grinning lopsidedly. It was a good look on him.

“Have you eaten lunch yet?” he asks innocently. My expression turns bland.

Well, that was an irrelevant question. He’s been with me all morning. Why would he need me to answer a question to which he already knew the answer? Unless, of course, it was meant to be rhetorical. But Jared was never rhetorical. He was definitely sarcastic, but also definitely not rhetorical.

“No,” I manage, keeping my eyes trailed forward.

“Great then,” he smiles wickedly, “Because you’re going to be eating my dust when you hang out of that window.”

Oh. So it was like that, huh?

“You know, I think I have 3G out here. Maybe I can post that picture of you online,” I threaten, retrieving my phone out of my pocket, “Like right now.”

 He turns around, a taut glare directed right at me. At least that got his attention.

“You’re bluffing,” he says, “My phone died just a while ago.”