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The Long Way Home

Kevin Hopson

    “You don’t need to do this, Myles,” Carly said.
    I sat next to her on the street curb, the pounding music from the neighboring house nearly drowning out the chirping of crickets. It was a late summer evening, but the chill in the air made it feel like fall already.
    “I don’t mind,” I said, burying my hands in the pockets of my hoodie.
    I only knew Carly through a mutual friend, and we’d both been invited to the party. Though she wasn’t drunk, Carly had enjoyed a few drinks earlier, so I didn’t want her wandering off on her own.
    “So, Sandra just left you here?” I asked.
    “Not really. I told her she could go without me.”
    “Why?”
    “She had a guy with her. They were going to go out, and I didn’t want to be a third wheel.”
    I nodded. “That’s thoughtful of you, but how did you plan on getting home?”
    Carly shrugged. “What about you?”
    “I walked. I only live a few blocks from here.” I pondered. “If you want, we can walk to my house, and I can give you a ride home. I’ll probably have to wake my parents to get their permission to use the car, but I’m sure they’ll understand.”
    She grinned. “That’s really nice of you, but I’ll figure something out.”
    I reached a hand into the pocket of my jeans and slid my cell phone from its resting place.
    “I can get an Uber driver for you,” I said.
    “I feel stupid for forgetting my phone,” Carly admitted. “Anyway, I don’t want to burden you.”
    “It’s no problem.”
    I entered a six-digit PIN to unlock my phone, but it proved to be unsuccessful. It was a common mistake. It sometimes took me several tries to get it right. But after the fifth failed attempt, I cursed under my breath.
    “What’s wrong?” Carly asked.
    “My PIN isn’t working.”
    “Didn’t you give your phone to Theo earlier?”
    My brow furrowed. “How do you know that?”
    “I was hanging out with him and Sandra. I remember you giving it to him.”
    “Yeah,” I said. “He needed to borrow it to make a call. I had to give him my PIN so he could use it. But what does that have to do with anything?”
    “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think he changed your PIN to mess with you.”
    “You’re kidding.”
    “I wish I was.”
    “Do you remember the PIN he used?”
    Carly shook her head. “Sorry. I don’t.”
    “This is great.” I pocketed the phone and got to my feet.
    “Where are you going?” Carly said.
    “Back inside to find Theo.”
    “But he’s already gone.”
    “He is?”
    “Yeah. He’s the one who left with Sandra.”
    I huffed. Then I heard something loud coming down the street. When I turned to look, I noticed a garbage truck slowly approaching, the street lamps overhead illuminating it as it got closer. Carly stood and waved her hands at it.
    “What are you doing?” I said.
    “Catching a ride,” Carly answered.
    “You can’t be serious.”
    The garbage truck came to a stop in front of us. Carly walked over and opened the passenger-side door. The driver, a burly-looking man, reached across the seat to speak.
    “Do you need some help, ma’am?” he asked.
    “I need a ride home. I was at a party, and my girlfriend left me behind.”
    The driver stared over Carly’s shoulder, eyeing me. “And what about him?”
    Carly spun around, her dark eyes meeting my gaze. This was a bad idea, but I wasn’t about to let Carly go it alone.
    “I could use a ride, too,” I finally said, glimpsing the driver.
    “Hop on in,” he said.
    My pulse quickened. Carly was about to climb into the truck, but I grasped her hand before she could do so.
    “I don’t like this,” I muttered. “We can find another way to get you home.”
    “He’s harmless,” Carly said. “Plus, I’ll have you to protect me.” Her lips stretched into a grin.
    I deliberated. “Fine, but I’m sitting in the middle.”
    I wanted to stay between her and the driver just to be safe.
    “Such the gentleman,” Carly teased.
    I climbed into the truck, half expecting to be punched in the face with a bout of putrid air. But, much to my surprise, the cab of the truck was void of any odors that were likely lurking in the back.
    I slid down the seat, keeping as much distance from the driver as possible while still allowing Carly ample room to squeeze in next to me. Carly eased into the seat and closed the door.
    The driver and I exchanged glances. I was an average male when it came to height and weight, but I did work out. Still, the man appeared to have a few inches on me, and maybe a good thirty pounds as well.
    “I’m Mike,” the driver said.
    “Myles,” I said, perspiration beginning to build beneath my hoodie.
    “I’m Carly.”
    “It’s nice to meet the two of you,” Mike said. “Where are we headed?”
    I looked to Carly. There was no way I was letting her ride alone with Mike.
    “We’ll drop you off first,” I said.
    Carly bobbed her head. “Okay. Buttonwood Street.”
    “I know where that is,” Mike commented. “It’s only a couple of miles from here.”
    Mike put the truck in Drive and we gradually picked up speed.
    “I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t stop,” Mike said, keeping his eyes on the road. “And my wife would kill me. She’s always been the good Samaritan. I guess it’s kind of rubbed off on me.”
    “Well, we appreciate it,” Carly said.
    “My pleasure.”
    We drove in awkward silence after that, and I felt inclined to speak, even if it was only small talk.
    “You normally work this late?” I asked.
    “Only after holidays,” Mike replied, “and we had one this week. We usually work a double shift to make up for the day off. Either that or we work Sunday. I prefer the double shift.”
    “Doesn’t really seem like a day off if you have to work overtime.”
    A chuckle escaped Mike’s lips. “You’re right about that.”
    I noticed that we were coming up on Buttonwood Street.
    “Which house is yours?” Mike asked.
    “The brick one on the right,” Carly said, pointing.
    Mike brought the truck to a stop in front of Carly’s house.
    “Thanks again,” Carly said.
    Mike looked her way. “You’re welcome, young lady.”
    “And thank you, too, Myles.”
    Carly pressed her lips against my cheek, my face immediately warming from her touch. I watched as she walked the driveway and fiddled with her keys at the door, eventually making her way inside. I let out a breath, relieved that she’d made it home okay.
    “I think she likes you,” Mike said.
    When I turned to him, Mike had a big, toothy smile, and he winked an eye at me. I was thankful for Carly, but there was no telling what Mike had in mind for me.
    “Where’s home?” Mike asked.
    “Uh,” I stuttered. “You know what? I think I’ll walk.”
    “Walk?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Where do you live?”
    I hesitated. “Forest Drive.”
    “That’s a mile or two in the opposite direction. Don’t be silly. I can drop you off. It’s no problem.”
    “I could use the exercise.”
    Mike shrugged. “Okay. Suit yourself.”
    I got out and closed the door. Then I heard a squeaking noise. Mike had scooted over to the passenger seat and was rolling down the window.
    “Hey,” he said. “I have a question for you.”
    “Okay.”
    “You said you live on Forest Drive?”
    I reluctantly nodded.
    “There’s a house there where the owners always have the trash bin facing the wrong way. It makes it harder for me because I have to get out of the truck and reposition it so the big claw mechanism can dump the contents into the truck. You don’t happen to know who that is, do you?”
    “I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t pay much attention to the trash bins, so I can’t really help you.”
    “No worries,” Mike said. “Just thought I’d inquire.” He hesitated. “I’ll ask one last time, though. Are you sure you don’t want a ride?”
    “I’m good.”
    “Fair enough. Have a good evening, Myles.”
    “Thanks. You, too.”
    Mike rolled up the window and returned to the driver’s seat, waving a hand at me before setting off again.
    He seemed like a nice enough guy, but I wasn’t about to admit that the house in question was my own. However, I’d make a point of rectifying the trash bin situation. The less attention it brought, the better. Maybe I was being paranoid, but I preferred not to get on Mike’s bad side.

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