The Open Road

Calvin stood on the porch as a large black mini-van, the kind all of his friends’ moms had, pulled into his driveway. He waved politely before bending to pick up his one box of possessions. Calvin lifted with his back, groaning as the weight of the box took his breath from him. The man in the car gestured, mouthing the words, ‘need help?’ but Calvin, prideful and already feeling a bit inadequate struggled to the van, popped the hatch-back, deposited his luggage, and made his way to the passenger seat.

Calvin found Gillian, the man driving the car, on Craigslist. “Driving Companion WANTED.” Calvin wanted to leave more than anything, considering he had exhausted his last friendly couch in the area. Jobless, penniless, and strapped for options he found Gillian, who was looking for “a cheerful roadside companion to help ease the solitude of a cross country drive. One Way.”  

“Ready to hit the road, Jack?” Gillian sang as Calvin slid into the oversized seat, wrestling with the belt.

“I suppose so.” The two had exchanged emails a few times in the past week leading up to the drive. After enough google searches of Gillian Winters to ease Calvin’s Ted Bundy fears they decided to make it official and set a date. For Calvin the moment he got into the car felt too soon.

“Alright-y then!” Gillian was dressed in an Ace Ventura Hawaiian shirt. “One rule about music. One skip per hour.” He shifted into reverse and pressed play.