The truck.
The young man was standing beside the road thumbing the on-coming traffic. It was nighttime, and the cars and trucks came roaring past him in the dark. He was standing underneath a bridge that passed over the highway, and walk on to the further side as he hitchhiked.
He stood for a long time near the bridge, thumbing for a ride, but there were no offers of a lift. After what seemed like several hours, a large truck and trailer pulled over to the side of the road for him. The airbrakes hissed ominously as the truck came to a standstill.
The young man ran with his two heavy bags towards the passenger's door, which was held open for him by the co-driver. He climbed up the steps, and while he was still at the door, the driver asked him; "Where are you going?
"To the south-coast, he replied.
"Get in, we can take you as far as Harrismith, said the driver.
The co-driver moved up on the large bench of the truck to make room for him, and he climbed with his two large bags into the cab. "Thanks, he said. The large truck started up again, and stood purring as it idled for a while. Then the driver pulled it back onto the freeway, and she started her cumbersome, but stately, role down the black tarmac.
As the truck drove on through the night, the driver asked him, "What are you going to do on the south-coast?
"I'm going for the holidays, I'm meeting my family down there, he replied.
"Oh, said the driver, and the co-diver nodded acknowledgement.
Still the truck rolled on over the black tar, through the dark night. The cat's eyes reflected off the road surface, and the lights from the cars flashed by in both directions. The cars made a whooshing noise as they came past.
"What are you hauling, the young man asked the driver
"We're carting vegetables up and down, said the driver.
"Oh, I see, said the young man.
Then he relaxed in his place on the bench, and prepared to rest. It would be a long slow drive. He would probably not reach his destination by tomorrow, perhaps the day after. But then with hitchhiking one never could tell. His next lift could take him all the way. He had to remain positive. He relaxed as he rested, and the large truck traveled on down the highway.
The truck's engine hummed loud and smooth, and the black wheels rolled over the tarmac. The large truck drove on towards its destination, through the night.
The End.
JP Brown ' 10/05/2006.
