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THE HITCH-HIKER
THIS WAS IN 1947. WE LIVED IN THE CITIES SERVICE OIL COMPANY CAMP THREE MILES FROM TOWN. MY MOTHER WAS ON HER WAY TO TOWN. AS SHE DROVE OUT OF THE CAMP AND ONTO THE HIGHWAY SHE SAW ONE OF OUR NEIGHBOR’S KIDS HITCH-HIKING. SHE STOPPED AND ASKED HIM WHERE HE WAS GOING. “TO TOWN, MRS. MOORE.” HE SAID “WELL GET IN. THAT’S WHERE I’M GOING.”
SHE NOTICED HE HAD HIS RIGHT HAND INSIDE HIS SHIRT. “DID YOU HURT YOUR HAND?” SHE ASKED. “ NO MA AM,” HE SAID. THEY WERE HALF WAY TO TOWN WHEN HE SAID, “MRS. MOORE MAYBE I BETTER TELL YOU WHY I’VE GOT MY HAND IN MY SHIRT LIKE THIS.” “OK, WHY HAVE YOU GOT YOUR HAND IN YOUR SHIRT?”
“WELL YOU SEE IT’S LIKE THIS, I CAUGHT THIS SIX FOOT LONG CHICKEN SNAKE THIS MORNING AND I WANTED TO TAKE IT TO TOWN TO SHOW MY FRIENDS.” “I KNEW IF I STOOD THERE BESIDE THE HIGHWAY WITH A SNAKE IN MY HAND I WOULD NEVER GET A RIDE.” “SO I WRAPPED THE SNAKE AROUND MY BODY AND PUT MY SHIRT ON OVER IT.” “I HAVE TO HOLD HIS HEAD WITH MY HAND SO HE CAN’T BITE ME.” “THAT’S WHY I HAVE MY HAND IN MY SHIRT LIKE THIS.”
WELL THAT’S WHEN HE LOST HIS RIDE, AND MOTHER TOLD HIM ….. BUT NO THAT’S A WHOLE NOTHER STORY FOR A DIFFERENT TIME.
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