A hitch hiker sits atop his

Battered leather suitcase

Layered with the stickers of

Each and every one of his destinations

Creating some kind of scaly hide

For that dead container

He drags with him always.



His head’s hung towards his shoes

Or what’s left them

And his right arm is propped up on his

Knee, with the thumb outstretched

Just resting along the on ramp for

I-76



The only thing that he wants is help

And the only help he’s had is the cool breeze

That follows the cars passing him

But just as he begins to fear heat stroke

Or sever hallucinations brought on by dehydration

A battered GM pickup slows to a stop on the

Gravel next to the ramp.



He has to rub his eyes to make sure this

Isn’t some sort of delirium

Then hefts his suitcase and rushes towards

The rusting pickup



The owner has one of those John Deer caps

Tipped up on his forehead and a rolled

Cigarette hanging from his lips

He doesn’t even bother to look at

His new guest he just stares intently at the

Wheel.



“Thank you sir for the ride, I wasn’t sure if

Anyone out here even cared about people

Looking to make a new start.”



The drivers head just hangs limp

But the corner of his mouth curls up

And he responds,

“Some of us ‘round here

We just want a good ending. Something

To light up the eyes.”

Then gravel sprays.



Our traveler holds his suitcase on his lap

Both fists gripping the worn handle

Just beneath his chin

And his mind it worries over this

Unusual character with whom he’s

Now trapped.



Still focused intently on the road

These two travel alone in silence

Finally the man with the John deer cap

Turns his head and quietly asks

“Do you believe in God?”



“It depends on what you call belief

I guess”

The passengers’ wary response

While the smile on the drivers face widens

And he continues

“He has a plan for all of us

Whether we like it or not

He got some great idea or mission

That we were intended to complete.”



The passenger just stares for a moment

Wondering if the man will continue

Then he feels it’s safe to speak and says

“That’s what those guys who wear robes say

That there is some divine goal assigned to each

Of us

Just sometimes I wonder what mine is.”



The man finally turns his head

And stares at his new guest

“Oh he, he has a plan for you

He wouldn’t have had me find you

If he didn’t.

Would you believe me if I told you

He commanded me to stop for you?”



“This I find hard to believe,

All I’m doing is looking for someplace

To start over

To not be judged

For my past.”



At this point the passenger noticed that

His driver hadn’t looked back

To the road

“He will forgive and you won’t

Be judged. All you need do is ask.”

Still staring dead at the man



“I will ask in my own time

What I’ve done is between me

And God.”

Hoping he would turn his head

“Oh yes, what you’ve done

He told me this too

You’re a liar, and a thief

Not a major sinner

But in need of atonement.”

Still staring at the man



And there was a turn coming

It looked like there was a ravine

Just past the rail



“Yes you need to repent and

Beg the Lord for forgiveness!

You humble fools think he is kind

But this is only for the deserving!

This God is cruel and he feels as if there

Are other gods in your pitiful life

And he is vindictive!”



The truck was gaining speed

“Thank you sir for this conversation

But I’m ready to get out.”

Hand tugging on the latch

But it won’t open



“Oh, he has a plan.”

And the laughter starts

While the truck runs forward

And the door won’t open  

The passenger starts to

Swing for the driver

But somehow he can’t reach him

Then the inevitable collision

Sounds

And the vehicle is weightless

For just a moment.



Hanging from the rear view mirror

Is a rosary looking suspended in mid air

The passenger reaches out for it

And the truck collides with the earth



The world spinning is merely a blur

While the sounds of metal twisting

Fills the air



And



The hitchhikers’ eyes snap wide

And he’s sitting on his suitcase

Along the on ramp for I-76 with

His thumb outstretched

And his head hung towards his feet.



But clenched in the fist with the thumb

Protruding is a string of rosary

Beads with the cross dangling

And at his feet is an oily John Deer

Cap



In the distance the old man wheezes

“Oh, he has a plan.”