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

The waitress came back for our plates. She looked outside again and her eyes narrowed. “I know that kid, there was someone looking for him just the other day. Seems like he was kidnapped or something. Jeff, you didn’t…” and her horrified eyes cut from Jeff to me. “Two of them?” she hollered. “I know you’ve always wanted to have a threesome but I thought you liked women!”


“Time to go!” Jeff hollered back, and threw a twenty on the table. He grabbed my arm and we fled. We gathered up the posse and climbed into the car and off we went in the usual gravel-spurting, rubber-peeling roar that I was getting so well used to.


While my breathing was still harsh, he was laughing again. “I do like women, but not that particular one anymore. At least she didn’t accuse me of liking the goat, too!” And I had to laugh with him. Besides, the goat, like the rest of us, was just a kid. Jeff read my mind again. “And I don’t like them underage, either!”


Chapter 14