Standing on the black asphalt shoulder of the I-90 on-ramp four miles east of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Zeke asked himself whether he really needed to be hitching a ride. Things were going well with his job at Office Max.   His managers were often reminding him that if his excellent performance continued, that he was on the fast track to success within the Office Max corporate world.   If things keep going well, he'd make Manager of the electronics department at his store in a year, vice president the year after that, CEO in 2003, and if he was so lucky, forced into early retirement at age 24 in 2005.  “Better look into the retirement options when I get back home,” said Zeke aloud with a vision of a rocking chair in his mind, but only the crickets in the ditch heard him.  

Although he had purchased an extremely used 1986 Ford Tempo a year ago from his sister (who had gotten it from her brother-in-law), it was now collecting rust and dust full-time in his driveway as it awaited repair. When the band had been just starting out, lack of transportation was not a problem getting to and from the gigs in Sioux Falls.   Lately however, they had been playing more often in venues not so close to home, and travel was becoming a problem.

Two weeks ago, rather than try to figure out what was wrong with the Ford, Zeke decided to purchase a used 1990 Honda sedan at a price that was too good to be true.   It wasn’t the dream car with which he hoped to wow Tricia, but he figured it would get him where he needed to go.   Or so he had thought.   He had possessed it for less than six full hours when the engine blew a seal and the car was left lifeless.   Fortunately, South Dakota had a three-day lemon law, so the vehicle was returned for a full refund.   Standing out next to the interstate highway reminded Zeke how the Honda would have come in handy for all of Staddic's trips up to the Twin-Cities area.  If only it hadn’t died.

On the days when nobody stopped to offer him a ride, he’d play games with the motorists.   Sometimes, he’d pull his pant leg up while extending his foot forward, and raise his thumb as beautiful girls would drive by.   The technique yielded more rides when he took his stocking hat off, especially now during the summer months.   A couple times he had lain down near the shoulder of the road as if he had been beaten and left for dead.   People in South Dakota were kind, and that pose had resulted in people stopping fairly quickly.   The down side was that they were very displeased to find him in perfect health and simply in need of a ride.

Today, Zeke was on his way up to Minnesota's one and only major metropolitan area, and he assumed the pull-up-the-pant-leg pose.   The first car that approached didn’t slow down, but the woman driving the late model Chevy did honk her horn as she drove down the on-ramp.   A minute later, a bright red Toyota Corolla slowed as it rounded the corner entering the on-ramp.   The driver looked at him and stopped the car nearby.   Zeke could see that Tricia G. from HyVee was the driver.

 "Zeke!" she exclaimed as she reached across and rolled down the passenger side door, "I thought that looked like you.   What are you doing out here on the interstate without your stocking hat?"

"Well, the guys took off for the Twin Cities yesterday, and I need to meet up with them for a gig. Since I took the shopping cart back to HyVee yesterday, that mode of transportation is out--a bit slow anyway.  My viable options pretty much include catching a ride with someone," Zeke explained as he reached into his bag and pulled out the stocking hat.

"What if I hadn't stopped by?!" Tricia asked.

"Oh, somebody usually stops before I've been out here more than four or five hours. And I got a bunch of HyVee(TM) brand Ramen noodles cooked up in this here thermos bottle, so I can last a while," Zeke said.

"Well, I'm on my way up to Bloomington to visit my Parents for the weekend.   I'd be happy to take you where you need to go," offered Tricia.

"Amazing! Thank you so much. Never figured someone as cute as you would be coming my way. You're awesome T. You can select the next record I scratch if you want." said Zeke, hopping into the passenger’s side of the car.

He thought about the long ride and the chance to get to know Tricia better. Possibly meeting the parents. It could be a fun and productive trip. 

Dun ta dun dun, ton dah dun, dun ta dun dun, ton dah dun... The Indiana Jones theme music played in Zeke's head as the 1990 Corolla lurched forward belching smoke with the radio blaring a country song.  Tricia G. and the Z man together again.  Something would have to be done about that country music, and soon.  He reached into his bag and pulled out a case filled with CDs he had burned with Staddic songs, carefully arranged in order of course.