NATE VIRAMONTES - THE HITCHHIKER

Nate Viramontes is a new writer having so far written 7 different short stories. He currently enrolled at full sail university working on getting his bachelor degree in creative writing. He also has a background in game design and has work on short films during his time in high school. He is beginning to work on his own novel in free time he hopes to have done within the next year or so. 

​THE HITCHHIKER 

​    The truck driver stops his truck to look at the hitchhiker he was wearing a military jacket, had dog tags around his neck, with a Backpack slung over his shoulder.  “Where you headed kid,” the driver asked.
“San Francisco,” the young man exclaimed.
 “Alright get in it’s a few hours to go before we get there.”
The young man climbed into the enormous big rig and took a seat “I’m Alex,” He says putting his hand out to the truck driver.
 “Pete,” The truck driver says back. Alex takes a good look at the man, he’s overweight, a smoker, and has an old and faded picture of a young woman with a little boy in it.
   “Thanks for picking me up I have been walking for what feels like days,” says Alex.
 “Don’t mention it Kid so what takes you to San Francisco?” Pete replied. Pete looks at Alex who has a troubled-looking face, he appears to be confused trying to figure out how to explain to someone what events had led him to where he was. Pete then tried asking something else, “So you did serve?”  Pete asked.
Alex look at him snapping out of it “huh? Oh, yea I just got home, I just finished my first tour, I’m a Marine.”
 Pete smiled and lifted up His sleeve to reveal a Marine tattoo on his arm. “I served in Vietnam, I was with the 4th battalion.”
Alex looked at him with surprise, “I've worked with the 4th battalion, Hell, I had buddies who were in the 4th. I was with the 5th battalion station in Afghanistan.” Alex stops talking for a moment and started thinking. “Saw a lot of action, lost a lot of my brothers.” Alex went silent.  
  Pete put the radio on to try and lighten the mood a little. Some old country music started playing, Pete chuckle “I love this song.” He starts to sing to himself out of tune to try and make Alex cheer up it was clear to him the young man in front of him was trouble.
 But Alex did laugh a little and even put a smile on his face. The two started to sing together and laugh. Alex was feeling a little better, “Thanks, Pete, I’m sorry I have just been through so much in such a short amount of time. you know?”
 Pete looks at Alex with a puzzled look “Ohhh c’mon kid smile a bit, you know the only way you’re going to be able to move on and feel better is to talk to someone, trust me it was the only way I got through being home after the war.”
  Alex smirked “Yea your right” Alex then told him about how he got home to find out his wife was cheating on him and pregnant with another mans baby and that he should go, and how he had no one left where he lived because his family didn’t support him going to the military and haven’t spoken in years, he then explains his old best friend lived in San Francisco, and with no car and little money started walking. “And that’s where I met you, Pete.”
  Pete with a look of concern on his face thought about what to say next. “Damn Kid, I am really sorry that can’t be easy for anyone, let me give you a piece of advice son, if someone going to do that to you then they aren’t worth your time or love, screw those people, you seem like a great guy with a good head on your shoulders. But you're just like me, lost and confused, so here what you're going to do when you get to your friend’s place, you go to college, what is it your good at?”
 Alex thought for a moment and grabs his backpack and pulls out a sketchbook I love to draw.”
Pete saw the beautiful drawings and told him. “Kid you’re in luck there is a great art school here in SanFran and I just happen to be old buddies with someone who works there I’ll give him a call and will get you set up with him.”
Alex looked at him with hope in his eyes “are you serious I can’t believe this.”
“it’s the least I can for a fellow soldier you’re going to be okay kid, and kid we're here.” Pete stops the truck. “I’ll call you tomorrow with the news. Good luck.”
Alex steps down from the truck looks back and says “Thanks Pete for everything.”