Hitchhiker

While in 7th period science class, Greg and Steve thought it would be funny to add a little more than the recommended teaspoon to their experiment. Ms. Smith didn't think the high flying fizz, splattering the ceilings was very funny at all. Thus earning, Greg and Steve 30 minutes after school detention.

When detention was over, they both high tailed it to track practice, which after changing their clothes they were almost 45 minutes late, something Coach Ford highly frowned upon.

"Boys, how dare you even think its ok to show up this late to track. You either have to run 100 laps or you are off the team." Being that it was their junior year, and both new that college scholarships rested upon their successful completion of track, they did as the coach had asked. They ran. And they ran those 25 miles knowing that they'd be missing the bus home. But they'd cross that bridge when they came to it.

As the boys ran they watched the cheerleaders in the middle of the field finishing up cheer practice. Greg noticed Sue the most, with her blond shoulder length hair bouncing around, leading her cheer squad. She sure is cute he thought. As he continued to run he watched the senior bomb shell run into the locker rooms to get ready to go home.

The sun began to go down on this cool Californian winter evening. With only a few more laps to go Greg was all alone. Steve dropped out about half way, he didn't feel it was worth it. When he finished his last lap his feet were throbbing, and he knew that in the morning he'd be more than sore. He walked into the locker room, changed his clothes, said goodnight to his coach in the office, and headed to the pay phone in the school court yard.

He put his only dime in the phone and listened to the endless ringing at home. His single mom was still working, but where were his brothers? Greg stopped his tears as he realized he was going to have to walk the 5 miles home. He decided it'd be best to trade out his penny loafers for his running shoes. He walked back to the locker rooms to find that the coach had left and locked things up. So with his penny loafers on, his back pack flung over his shoulder, he hit the road.

As he was walking he held out his thumb in hopes that someone would come and drive him the rest of the way home. He didn't think his legs could carry him much farther.

Headlights kept passing him by. A small truck passed him, slowed down made a u-turn and pulled up behind him. He heard a young girl's voice say "Greg you need a ride?" It was Ginny his best friend Drew's older sister, and her best friend Sue, the cheerleader. He threw his backpack in the bed of the truck and hopped in. He graciously thanked them for saving his life.

As he explained to them the fun he had that day, Sue kept staring at him, noticing that he had so many freckles on his handsome face. She never knew that toe head had so many freckles. As he talked she'd make eye contact and then shyly look away. They pulled up to Greg's house and said good night.

Greg ran inside, amazingly considering how weak and tired his legs were, and the girls drove off. Greg was amazed at how beautiful Sue was and how nice she seemed to be.

As Ginny drove Sue home, Sue inquired of Greg and if he was dating anyone. Sue's boyfriend at the time was a freshman at San Jose State. Sue hinted to Ginny to have that handsome freckled face boy ask her out. As they pulled up to Sue's house, she thanked Ginny for the ride home and told her to have Drew call Greg and encourage him to ask her out.

Greg was half asleep on the couch when the phone rang. It was Drew.

"Hey what's up?" After a few moments of idle chit chat, as much as teen boys do, Drew encouraged Greg to ask the ever more popular, older cheerleader out. Greg being a fierce competitor took the challenge and called her up, what would it hurt.

And they lived happily ever after! Well you know they dated, Greg joined the LDS church, they went to college, Greg served a mission, then they got married, and this spring they will celebrate their 40th anniversary. This young hitch hiker and this cheerleader are my parents and this is their mostly true first encounter!