On these cool, crisp afternoons I like to do a bit of driving. I’m not by any means a ‘fall colours’ kinda guy but I when I do notice the foliage I’m reminded that it’s pleasant enough to look at. I spent a part of the day raking leaves and cleaning the caulking in the bathroom. I buy a hard bristle toothbrush because it really gets into all the tiny crevices. I don’t stop until everything is done. Sometimes it takes hours…

I passed by a few carparks, those little oases where folks on long distance journeys can pull over and get a little shuteye. If they only knew what I’ve done at some of those places, how very close they were to some of my greatest adventures. But I had a certain other place in mind. There’s a huge truck stop by the name of Gus’s that sits right at the spot where this highway splits to the east and to the north. It’s been around forever, longer than I can remember. My dad took me here for ham and eggs (sunnyside with a large glass of milk and a double order of toast to wipe up the yolks) when I was a kid. The place is huge-tons of tables inside and acres and acres of parking outside.

There’s a thriving but small black market economy here-drivers sell goods that are only available in other provinces, dealers know that there’s business to be had on what would otherwise be a slow Sunday night, and sexual favours are of course available. This was my angle tonight.

As I sat with my coffee I waited on the offers and it didn’t take long. A meaningful stare here and there gets the ball rolling quickly. The first was by a sharply dressed guy that stuck out like a sore thumb,

-need any coke?

-naw, looking for something else

-guy or girl?

-surprise me

The boy was young, really young and he was nervous as hell. I bought him a Pepsi and told him what I wanted. He just nodded and looked back at his ‘caretaker’. I told him I pay well and

-maybe we could chat a bit

-sure, he replied

I mean, what else was he going to say? It eventually came out that he’d been on the streets for a week. Kicked out of school, kicked out of the house by his stepmother, he was from three provinces away. The knife clipped to my hip felt warm as he talked-I had no idea why he was unloading on me. Just had to get it out, I guess.

-sorry if I talked too much

-no worries

-I don’t know why but you remind me of my dad

The cold, electrical energy crackled down my spine. My mind went temporarily blank. My hands trembled a bit. Nothing was going right and it wouldn’t go right. I knew immediately.

-you okay?

-yeah, let’s get this done with. Come out to my car

-Uh, I have to do it in the bathroom. That’s what he says

-I’ll pay double-tell your guy that’s just my thing

We got out to the car and I started up the car and squealed out of the parking lot.

-what the fuck! I’m in so much trouble

-I’m getting you out of trouble

I saw some headlights behind us but they eventually faded. I drove back towards my town and then beyond it. I drove for six hours, the kid sleeping most of the way. I dropped him near a youth hostel in a larger city after getting some money out of an ATM.

-take this, get a room and get a job-don’t do that shit again

He just nodded his head and got out. I called work and said I wouldn’t be in until noon and began to drive back. It’s rare for me, but some plans go awry but that’s okay, I guess. I’ll just have to focus a bit more next time out.

TO THE GAME!

Colts/Chiefs:

I guessing Patrick Mahomes and his Flying Circus run away with this.*

*code for “I didn’t bother to do any homework for this one, it was a long drive”

Have at it, wastrels!