My mother had just received my previous semester's grades in
the mail,
and I felt I owed her an explanation. I was broke, so I
decided to hitchhike. Before I left, I bought a hit of LSD on the
and I felt I owed her an explanation. I was broke, so I
decided to hitchhike. Before I left, I bought a hit of LSD on the
street outside the UI student union and put it in my pocket.
The first
ride was a short one—Champaign to Bloomington. It had gotten dark
before the next car stopped—a big old Pontiac station wagon full of freaks.
ride was a short one—Champaign to Bloomington. It had gotten dark
before the next car stopped—a big old Pontiac station wagon full of freaks.
A girl in the front seat was helping the driver snort a
line.
A joint that was traveling around the car came to me twice.
A pale-faced, freckled guy in back was playing with a revolver.
A joint that was traveling around the car came to me twice.
A pale-faced, freckled guy in back was playing with a revolver.
After the tokes, I felt claustrophobic, so I asked to be
dropped off in Peoria,
even though they said they were going all the way to Dubuque.
They let me out next to a park. When I finally got to the next station, I was
even though they said they were going all the way to Dubuque.
They let me out next to a park. When I finally got to the next station, I was
hungry, so I dropped the hit.
The next ride was a semi, with a crew-cut driver who kept talking
about killing gooks. He could see I was some kind of a hippie, and he
The next ride was a semi, with a crew-cut driver who kept talking
about killing gooks. He could see I was some kind of a hippie, and he
was trying to get a rise out of me. I pretended to go to
sleep,
and he stopped talking for a while, but by the time we passed Galesburg,
I couldn't sit still anymore—I twitched and hallucinated all
and he stopped talking for a while, but by the time we passed Galesburg,
I couldn't sit still anymore—I twitched and hallucinated all
the way to the Interstate. I could hardly stand
to look at the high gas station lights. The big Standard sign was surrounded
by swooshing, purple, anemone-headed worms.
to look at the high gas station lights. The big Standard sign was surrounded
by swooshing, purple, anemone-headed worms.
Somebody finally picked me up and left me off
in downtown Davenport, where I found a dime
and called my mother.
in downtown Davenport, where I found a dime
and called my mother.
