Why?

Not sure. Could be a million things. Million reasons. I’m just not sure, he said.

Where you heading?

I don’t know, Tom responded. Never know. Just hitch a ride and take off, he sipped his coffee. One time, I got a lift clear out to the East Coast. Didn’t talk to the driver much. He said he just liked the company. Someone being there, he lit a cigarette. And I knew what he meant.

Right, Sonny responded. I get that.

Like sometimes, I don’t want to hear a woman’s voice. I just want her next to me.

Yeah.

Well, this guy didn’t want to hear me. Just have me there in that old station wagon. Playing with the radio. Listening to oldies throughout the night. And the next day. And the day after that.

Where’d he pick you up? Sonny asked.

Out in New Mexico. Albuquerque.

That’s a long drive.

Yeah. We got to New York two and a half days later. He dropped me off in Times Square. All those people. Had a hundred to my name, Tom told him. Went and got a slice of pizza for a buck.

Yeah? How long were you there?

Couple of months. Then I headed south to Philadelphia with a guy who never stopped talking, he said. We talked about politics and movies. TV shows. He never turned on the radio. Kept it off. We just talked.

Yeah. I know the type. I’m going to Arkansas. 

Never been there.

You want a ride?

Sure.