THE HITCH HIKERA short story, 1900 words.

By Jonsig Eirik.

Bonny Robertson fished few coins from the pocket of her worn jeans to count them one more time, five quarters, three dimes, and six pennies. The meager remains of babysitting money earned during the Victoria Day weekend, but hardly enough to get her to Foam Lake. She dropped the change back into her pocket and turned to stick out her thumb just as the black Cadillac passed and pulled in at the cafe.

She watched the heavy man in a black suit climb out of the big car and go into the cafe. A few minutes later when she stepped into the café he was sitting at the counter studying the menu. The stools on either side of him were empty; Bonny hesitated a moment then sat down close to the end of the counter.

She wondered what his name was. Bill? Joe? Naw! The Black Suit. That would do for a name.

The Black Suit cast a cold impartial glance at Bonny then resumed studying the menu. A white clad waitress came from the back and stood by to take his order.

"I haven't decided yet. Why don't you wait on that stinking hippie, so she can get out of here."

Bonny felt the color rise to her cheeks as the waitress came over.

"Hungry?" "Sure am." "There's some stew left over from lunch. Got any money?""A little." "You can take my order now, waitress," the Black Suit

interrupted. "I'll give you a bowl of stew if you have something with it.

Coffee, or something so we can show a sale, okay?""Waitress! Please! I said you can take my order now."

Growled the Black Suit.

The waitress wrote down his order then disappeared into the kitchen. She returned in a moment to set a bowl of stew in front of Bonny, and then went on about her duties.

Bonny felt the hunger pain ease as she shoveled in the stew. She was about half through it when the Black Suit piped up.

"You remind me of a pig the way you eat.""Takes one to know one," Bonny replied, finishing off the

stew. ""Why don't you stinking hippies get a job instead of

cluttering up the highways?" "Got any hot jobs on tap?" "Wouldn't hire you if I had.""Figures. All talk." "If you'd clean yourself up, get some decent clothes, and

throw those stupid ornaments in the nearest garbage can, you'd have a better chance."

"They don't hinder my ability to work.""That black patch over your eye. Is that a new status

symbol?" "Of course not. My eye is infected." Before he could reply, the waitress brought his order.

Bonny had finished her coffee so she got up to leave. She glanced at the plate in front of the Black Suit and remarked as she walked past him, "Looks like I'm not the only pig around." He grumbled something she couldn't make out as she went out the door.

About a mile up the road the Cadillac passed Bonny. She knew he wouldn't pick her up so she didn't even bother to thumb; besides she didn't want his company anyhow.

The sun was warm on her back as she plodded along and she felt better now that she had eaten and rested a few minutes. She glanced behind her and the smoke from the mills was the only sign of the small town where she'd stopped.

A road sign read Kamloops, 20 miles. If she got that far by dark she might find a place to sleep. Or she might find something to do for a few days. If she could only make the price of her fare

to Foam Lake so she wouldn't have to hitch hike.Then she saw the black Cadillac. It was pulled over on the

shoulder of the road, with the trunk open. She hastened her step a little, not that she wanted to ride with that big ape, but if he was to offer she might think about it. She wasn't really sore at him any more for his nasty remarks.

She stepped around the broken coke bottle at the edge of the road and plodded on till she was a few feet from the car. She could hear groans and cuss words coming from the other side of the car so she peered around it to see what had happened.

The Black Suit was on his knees, his hand pinched between the front tire and the fender. Bonny gasped and the he turned, his face twisted with pain from his crushed wrist. He didn't speak for a moment but his eyes pleaded with her to help him. She walked around to the front of the car and saw where the bumper jack had slipped and let the heavy car drop.

"Well do something, girl. Don't just stand there.""Keep your shirt on, Mister. Let me think.""Do your thinking some other time, you stinking hippie." "Just who the hell do you think you are, calling me a

stinking hippie? I've a mind to leave you here till a car comes along."

"You wouldn't do that.""Want to bet?""Okay, kid. I take it back. For heavens sake, will you try to

jack up the car?" "How come the jack let go?" "I don't know. What difference does it make? At a time like

this you are wondering why the jack let go. Stupid dame!""Listen, you dumb ape, if I knew why it let go in the first

place I might prevent it happening again. Or do you want that arm broken in a different place?"

"Sorry, I didn't think of that." "So come on. What's with it?" "That little lever on the side is loose. That may have let it

go."

"If I hold it up will it be okay?" "I think so. Try it." "You're calling the shots." "Go ahead." She started to jack up the car. At first it came up fast, then

got heavier, till finally she had to put her whole weight on the jack handle. This was difficult, as she still had to hold the little lever with one hand. "Too bad I haven't got some of your beef."

"You're doing fine.""Can you pull the tire out with your free hand?""I think so." The Black Suit yanked hard on the tire and it slid free on

the gravel shoulder. He stood back and held his broken wrist in his pudgy hand while he groaned.

"Never mind feeling sorry for yourself. Let's get this cotton-picking tire on. You lean on the jack handle while I hold the lever in place."

The Black Suit raised the car several more inches. "Now hang onto the lever while I slide the spare into place.

And don't let go.""Go ahead, I'll hang onto it." "There! It's on the drum. Where are the nuts?" "On the ground.""You mean in the gravel, you bonehead! Why didn't you put

them in the hubcap?" "Well, look around. They're someplace." Bonny found one, got it on and snugged it up, then stood

back. "Okay, let it go." The Black Suit let go of the jack. It held a moment then

slipped, letting the car drop. "You better get a new jack. Now come here and help me

look for the rest of the wheel nuts." In a few moments the wheel nuts were retrieved from the

gravel and Bonny had the wheel snugged up. She looked up at him, realizing he'd been watching her every move.

"Want to put your weight on the wrench?" "Think it needs it?" "No." "Then let's go. Can you drive?" he asked."Sure. Want me to?" "I think you better."Bonny tossed the cut tire into the trunk then climbed in and

eased the big car onto the blacktop. The Black Suit leaned back, holding his wrist for a long time before he spoke.

"My name is Edward Henry Durant." "Wow! With a handle like that you must be mighty

important. Mine is Bonny Robertson. Unimportant." "Right now I feel awful stupid." "A good sign. What about the hand?" "I'll have it looked after in Kamloops. There is one big

problem, though." "A problem, Mr. Edward Henry Durant?""That briefcase on the back seat holds important papers

that must be presented to a board meeting in Calgary by ten in the morning."

"Meanwhile, you'll be in the hospital, so you haven't a hope in hell of getting the papers to the meeting. You DO have a problem."

"You don't have to sound so cheerful." "Realistic! Can't you phone them from Kamloops?" "Sure, but that wouldn't get the papers there." "Postpone the meeting.""Can't. Department heads from all over the country are

already there. But there may be one solution." "Burn the papers and forget the whole thing." "You take them to Calgary." "You must have lost your marbles." "No, I'm serious. You do have a drivers license, don't you?""Yes. My foster parents saw to that.""You take my car and deliver the papers to the meeting.""Boy, you're either awful trusting or awful stupid."

"You can make it by ten easy." Bonny was silent and thoughtful a moment. This would

speed her on her way. "Look, I'll give you five hundred bucks if you'll do it.""Must be damn important papers. But I just need enough to

get to Foam Lake""They are important, Bonny. They could mean my job.

Please, will you do it for me?""Okay, Mr. Durant. I won't let you down.""Good girl. You leave the car in the parking lot beside the

office and give the keys to Mr. Jones. He's chairman at the meeting."

"How do you know I won't steal your car and just keep going?"

"I trust you as if you were my daughter--- if I had a daughter."

"You should let your hair grow, Mr. Durant." "Think I'd make a good hippie?" "With a little coaching. I'll give you some of my beads, then

you phone the hydro and have them shut off the water so you can't take a bath. Very important that you stink.

"You don't have to rub it in." He said. "Then you get out there on 401 and stick your thumb out.

Think you can cut it?" "No, and if you think I would try, you're crazy." "Here's the hospital, Mr. Durant. Want me to sign you in?" "Never mind the wisecracks. You be on your way to Calgary.

But before you drop the car off, get my address from the registration then call me later from Foam Lake. Okay?"

"So why do you want me to call you?""Just do it, okay."Bonny looked at him and smiled, "Sure, I'll call you. I hope

the hand will be okay."He managed a grin, and then slowly walked up the hill to

the hospital.Bonny wheeled the big car back on the highway and settled

back for the long drive. The clock on the dash read nine P.M. She had plenty of time, but she would time it perfect. She would walk into that board meeting at exactly ten, and watch the look on their faces as she slapped the briefcase on the table and handed the keys to Mr. Jones.

THE END