Shane’s parents drop him off at the train station with money and instructions to take the train to his Aunt Sophie’s place for the holidays. The minute they drive off, he walks out again, leans against a pole, and throws out his thumb. Having just turned eighteen, he is, as he regularly reminds himself, now a fully legal adult and quite capable of having his own adventure. In the few days and nights it takes him to hitchhike all the way, he gets to know some very interesting people. Hippies, conmen, an ex-teacher ... and also the dog Jimmy. He learns there are more to people than meets the eye, and the world is rather bigger than his cosseted upbringing led him to believe. By the time he arrives at Aunt Sophie’s place, he has lost his virginity, acquired a dog and a cousin, and has the pleasing probability of a sweet summer romance to look forward to.

A Hitch in Time

Finally that part of it was over, I was empty. Jake handed me the Kool-Aid. “Just a sip,” he said. Bleagh, it tasted funny now. Elrod turned, looked at my face, managed to get his under control, took a photo of me with the phone, giggled, and said, “We ran out of vodka. That’s gin. Don’t waste it.”


My lap warmer sat up, barfed out the other back window, gulped down some Kool-Aid, and holy shit, she really was a he. No nunnery would have ever taken that one. “I won again,” she grinned, I mean he. “Didn’t I?”


“No, you came in second,” Elrod smiled. “Right behind Miss Sippy Valley there,” and he was looking right at me. My face fell into a silent snarl, but it made my skin hurt, so I blinked and looked at the video on Elrod’s phone.


Chapter 4