My car would not start.
.
I decided to walk to get help before the implacable noon day heat would become too oppressive to endure while on foot. I assumed there would be a call box in the vicinity. I had no idea where my cell phone was!
I removed my shirt to leave on my tank top, as rivulets of perspiration adorned by cleavage and the lower portion of my back. I put on my beetle sunglasses and a cap, then grabbed my purse to commence my journey on foot.
I walked for about a mile on this arid patch of desolate desert, to see a sign of the highway 15, yet still no call box in site, and curiously no cars had passed by to flag down for help. My tongue was parched and felt like sandpaper. I looked forward with lustful anticipation to drinking a super size diet soda with lots of ice.
It seemed one could fry eggs on the hot as a skillet asphalt. The pitiless sun, made the interminable road ahead seem to sizzle, with an almost tangible wall of heat emanating from the scorching asphalt, this wall blurring the visibility of the horizon.
I thought that it was a mirage at first. I removed my sunglasses to wipe the stream of sweat clouding my vision in the form of tears of sweat, to get a better look. There it was. It was the outline of a lone dinner about half a mile off the freeway exit.
With renewed vigor, I accelerated my pace, anticipating the moment I would sip a cool, tall drink of diet soda, with lots of ice, and drink cold water as well.
I removed my shirt to leave on my tank top, as rivulets of perspiration adorned by cleavage and the lower portion of my back. I put on my beetle sunglasses and a cap, then grabbed my purse to commence my journey on foot.
I walked for about a mile on this arid patch of desolate desert, to see a sign of the highway 15, yet still no call box in site, and curiously no cars had passed by to flag down for help. My tongue was parched and felt like sandpaper. I looked forward with lustful anticipation to drinking a super size diet soda with lots of ice.
It seemed one could fry eggs on the hot as a skillet asphalt. The pitiless sun, made the interminable road ahead seem to sizzle, with an almost tangible wall of heat emanating from the scorching asphalt, this wall blurring the visibility of the horizon.
I thought that it was a mirage at first. I removed my sunglasses to wipe the stream of sweat clouding my vision in the form of tears of sweat, to get a better look. There it was. It was the outline of a lone dinner about half a mile off the freeway exit.
With renewed vigor, I accelerated my pace, anticipating the moment I would sip a cool, tall drink of diet soda, with lots of ice, and drink cold water as well.
.
As I approached this dinner, I found it odd that it seemed deserted. There was not a single car on the parking lot, and the dilapidated sign calling this place and broken windows had seen better days. Some of these broken windows had been boarded up.
I opened up the dirty front door, to enter the dinner which boasted dirty floors as well, and was totally empty. The occupant of this dinner was alerted of my presence by the bell which rang when pushing the front door open.
I could smell him, before I saw him. He was a man in his late 50’s. His beard had encrusted particles of food which had entangled in its dense forest. He wore what would be designed a white tank top. Now it was a grey and tattered image of its former glory. His dirty jeans hung loosely from his lanky frame.
-“Hi! I’d like a cold diet Coke please, and may I see the menu? My car broke down the road; I’ve been walking forever!” I said in a flurry.
-“We don’t serve from the menu. And I ain’t got no diet coke. The only thing I have is whiskey and bottled Gatorade or water, though it’s gonna cost you.” He said through missing teeth, as he surveyed my sweaty and sun scorched cleavage.
-“Please tell me, how much it is and what do you have to eat here? Never mind, I just need water and a telephone please to call for aid. I probably just need some gas for my car to get going.” I said exasperated as I sat down on the counter chair.
-“Water is $7.00 per bottle, and don’t think anyone is going to come here and help you. I can give you a ride anywhere’s you need close by, provided you stay here with me a few days and keep me company.” He said with a wink, and a gapped grin.
-“This is highway robbery! How can a bottle of water cost $7.00? How can water cost more than gasoline? Are you insane? “I asked in shock on both accounts.
As I approached this dinner, I found it odd that it seemed deserted. There was not a single car on the parking lot, and the dilapidated sign calling this place and broken windows had seen better days. Some of these broken windows had been boarded up.
I opened up the dirty front door, to enter the dinner which boasted dirty floors as well, and was totally empty. The occupant of this dinner was alerted of my presence by the bell which rang when pushing the front door open.
I could smell him, before I saw him. He was a man in his late 50’s. His beard had encrusted particles of food which had entangled in its dense forest. He wore what would be designed a white tank top. Now it was a grey and tattered image of its former glory. His dirty jeans hung loosely from his lanky frame.
-“Hi! I’d like a cold diet Coke please, and may I see the menu? My car broke down the road; I’ve been walking forever!” I said in a flurry.
-“We don’t serve from the menu. And I ain’t got no diet coke. The only thing I have is whiskey and bottled Gatorade or water, though it’s gonna cost you.” He said through missing teeth, as he surveyed my sweaty and sun scorched cleavage.
-“Please tell me, how much it is and what do you have to eat here? Never mind, I just need water and a telephone please to call for aid. I probably just need some gas for my car to get going.” I said exasperated as I sat down on the counter chair.
-“Water is $7.00 per bottle, and don’t think anyone is going to come here and help you. I can give you a ride anywhere’s you need close by, provided you stay here with me a few days and keep me company.” He said with a wink, and a gapped grin.
-“This is highway robbery! How can a bottle of water cost $7.00? How can water cost more than gasoline? Are you insane? “I asked in shock on both accounts.
.
I looked at his long blackened nails encrusted with interred dirt and oil, his face and body exuding an offensive odor, which surely translated to other parts into a rancid and intolerable aroma. I could vomit just from the suggestion of keeping company with this individual. When was the last time he showered?
.
Judging from the grime on his face and body which could probably be separated with a dull knife to supply considerable amounts of grease and grime, it had been in the distant past.
-“Listen honey, since Lake Mead dried up, water is as good as gold around here. No one is going to come down to help you here. You are welcome to walk to the nearest town which is Barstow, which is about fifty miles west. Even then, it would do you no good, since that too has become a ghost town. And no, water is not more expensive than gasoline; don’t you know that gasoline costs $10 per gallon now, where have you been?
Judging from the grime on his face and body which could probably be separated with a dull knife to supply considerable amounts of grease and grime, it had been in the distant past.
-“Listen honey, since Lake Mead dried up, water is as good as gold around here. No one is going to come down to help you here. You are welcome to walk to the nearest town which is Barstow, which is about fifty miles west. Even then, it would do you no good, since that too has become a ghost town. And no, water is not more expensive than gasoline; don’t you know that gasoline costs $10 per gallon now, where have you been?
.
Now, unless you are nice to me, I don’t see how you going to get yourself out of this pickle. There are no working gas stations nearby or anyway for you to get help.”
To be continued…
Now, unless you are nice to me, I don’t see how you going to get yourself out of this pickle. There are no working gas stations nearby or anyway for you to get help.”
To be continued…
