The road lacked the afternoon traffic, which never bothered me much. I enjoyed speeding down an empty road in my Porsche. There were no other cars to dodge in a out of while I made good time. I did regret, that I was unable to show off what money can buy.
It was hot and dry so I had my AC cranked to the max. I was living the life. I had no idea the trouble I was about to dive head first into rounding the next bend. You see, I get little cocky at times and when I get in one of those moods there's no stopping me. That's kind of my pet peeve. I passed the last town an hour ago before hitting the long stretch of nothing as far as the eye can see. No human life but mountains, empty flat lands, and a whole lot of wasted space. I checked the gas gauge thinking I would make the next town, but I was wrong. My car sputtered to the side of the road. The gas light popped on and the needle fell below the E. I couldn't help but let an angry string of colorful words slip from my lips, followed by the thud of my balled fist against the steering wheel. I climbed out of my car to look around. Nothing. I grumbled again under my breath in hopes it would ease the stress. I looked again in both directions trying to spot a car or a house or some sort of helpful item preferably a gas station. My attempt proved useless. There was nothing. My next thought was my cell phone. I searched my pocket and pulled out the tiny device. No service, go figure. I kicked at the dirt on the ground creating a small cloud of dust around my tennis shoe. What was I going to do? It was at least a hundred degrees and I was sweating profusely. I was stranded, so I did the next best thing, I started to walk up the road. I thought if I was going to die of heat exhaustion I might as well show a little effort and progress in survival. I think I made a total of ten paces before I heard the sweet sound of help behind me. I turned to see an old beat up green pick up truck bearing down in a cloud of dust. When the cloud lifted I could see an older fellow with a pudgy face leaning out the window.
"You need some help son?" I blinked twice before I realized it was real and not a mirage. I jogged over to his window. He looked hard labored. His skin looked leathery and tough but he had friendly eyes. He wore a red and tan plaid shirt under a pair of dirty overalls and a green trucker hat that read, "Chevy, mans other best friend."
"Yeah, I ran out of gas." He chuckled and shook his head.
"Doesn't surprise me," he climbed out of his truck and leaned over the side of the back pulling a gas can from the bed. "I see this all the time out here. You young folk drive them fast cars up and down this here road all summer, then forget to gas up thinking the next town is just around the bend. I'll tell ya, you sure make learning lessons the hard way." Learning lessons the hard way? Right old man, I forgot you're old and wise and we have no wisdom at all. That's why the younger generation are so well developed and financially stable, as opposed to the depression you led your generation into. Yep, I see the difference.
"I forgot then next town is about thirty, forty miles from the turn off. I thought I could make good time if I didn't have to stop." He smiled like he knew better. He began filing the car with the gas can. I could feel my face start to flush with anger. If it weren't for the blistering heat my red face would stick out like a sore thumb.
"Where you from Slick?"
"Los Angeles."
"Ah, city boy huh? What brings you all the way out here? A beautiful young gal?" I shook my head no.
"School. Harvard to be exact." He nodded his approval.
"One of those smarty pants. Your pop must have a full wallet." I could feel my hands twitch at my sides. I knew what he meant by full wallet. He didn't believe I had the intelligence to attend Harvard, just a poor little rich boy out to have fun on his father's money.
"No, actually I was lucky enough to receive a full ride football scholarship." I lied. "I wanted to get into business so I can help my dad's struggling business back home." He nodded slowly as if he didn't believe me. He finished filing my car, wiping his brow with a red handkerchief.
"Oooo eeee sure is a hot one today." I only nodded. He returned the gas can to the back of the truck bed. "That should get you about ten miles down the road." I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Only ten miles? Who did he think I was, the Flash or Mr. Incredible? I guess he saw the look on my face as he got back in the truck.
"There's a gas station about five miles down the road at the turn off." He pointed his finger down the road behind me. I never saw a gas station or a turn off. This old man was crazy. I could tell the sun was really getting to him.
"I just came from that direction. There's nothing out there for miles, believe me I drive this road every year." He nodded with a smile like he knew of a secret.
"If you follow me I'll help you find it, Slick." He turned on his truck then pulled forward so he could turn around. I could feel an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. Maybe he was planning to lead me off into the desert rob me blindly then murder me, leaving my lifeless body to rot in this unbearable heat. The only evidence left will be my polished sun-bleached bones the buzzards picked clean. I know it sounds a bit graphic but you hear of these incidents all the time on the news. I figured I would take a chance and follow him, if he was wrong as least I could gloat in his failure. So I decided to follow him.
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