They met at a highway intersection deep in the heart of the popular national park. Her thumb was upturned and waving as cars drove past, a small backpack at her feet and a smile on her face. His hitched ride delivered him to the same intersection, and his first thoughts were that the girl he saw with thumb extended wrecked his chances for a quick ride to elsewhere.
But that was the nature of the hitchhiking life he’d embraced for many months. The guitar he carried with him caught most driver’s attention, and clearly improved his chances of shorter waits by the side of the road. As far as he knew, psycho killers didn’t typically carry guitars with them when they traveled, and his long, sun-bleached hair caught the attention of drivers who might otherwise be afraid to stop to pick him up.
As he strode toward her he saw she had short blonde hair, eyes deep blue, was quite attractive, and appeared to be older than him. She seemed somewhat out of place standing by the road, yet returned his smile as he approached her.
“It looks like we’re headed down the same road,” he said to her, a grin on his face and complete uncertainty as to what would transpire next.
”I’m on my way to Teton Village. I work in the park and it’s my day off. Where are you headed?” she said to him, her eyes bright, with a grin matching his in youthful exuberance.
“That’s in the direction I’m headed,” he said, though in truth he had no idea where he was going, that day or any other day. He did know that he was lonesome for companionship, any companionship. He also recognized that he was filthy, hadn’t bathed in weeks, and had four dollars to his name. The joker in his deck was his guitar.
“We could travel together if someone stops and has enough room.” she said to him, giving him a good lookover.
“Well, we’ll see how it goes,” he responded, already imagining an improvement in his life circumstances.
They stood there exchanging information about each other as they waited for a car to stop and offer them a ride. She was 18 and recently graduated from high school, and was working for the summer before attending college. She’d been Homecoming Queen in a small town in a midwest farm state. He told her he was 18 and had also just graduated from high school in the same midwest state. But in fact, though he hailed from the same state, he was 16 and drifting in a fog of darkness and hurt. Much later they discovered they were both virgins.
A ride eventually arrived and they were able to travel together to Teton Village, where they spent the day hiking, talking and just being together. In the evening they slept in separate sleeping bags and talked till late. There was a hint of blossoming romance. The next morning they said goodbyes, lightly kissed, and she returned to her workplace within the park. They had agreed to try to stay in touch with each other. He walked out to the highway and waved his thumb, destination unknown, a growing affection for her.
Over the course of the summer season he would hitchhike far and wide through the American west, but regularly return and visit her. On her day off they would hike and lie together in the warm mountain sun, their affection growing alongside their desire for greater intimacy. One night she mentioned that she knew of unlocked tourist cabins located near her own workplace, and that they could enter one and make use of the bed, for what seemed pre-ordained on their part- the loss of their virginity to each other. The idea was tantalizing and drove their ardour to new heights.
“We need to be quiet, ok? There’s a night watchman. I’ve met him and he seems cool, but it’s still dangerous what we’re doing.” she told him as they entered the empty tourist cabin. Standing by the perfectly made bed they undressed quickly and crawled under the covers. They were beside themselves with excitement and passion. Their kisses had new meaning for each of them, and the universe seemed to be guiding them toward something they both knew would be special and unforgettable.
In the midst of their excited kisses and tender touches, she heard a sound which made her open her eyes, and immediately she saw a faint light glowing outside one of the windows.
“Shh! I think someone’s outside!” she whispered to him. Just then the cabin door swung open and a high intensity light shone on the bed where they lay naked under the covers, their virginity still intact.
“Don’t move!” a gruff voice exclaimed. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The night watchman stood before them, a 38 special revolver aimed at them.
Neither of the young lovers could speak, fear overwhelming them. Silence filled the room as the flashlight beam probed the area around the bed. Finally it shone on the terrified couple again and the night watchman commanded, “Both of you get out of the bed right now!”
After a short silence she replied, “But we’re naked!” “I don’t care that you’re both naked! Get out of bed and stand before me, hands in the air!” he replied, grinning, but at the same time scowling.
After they had dressed, the night watchman accompanied them to the security office, where they sat and waited for a supervisor to arrive to deliver judgement upon them. She was certain she would lose her job, he was certain he would be locked in a cell and forgotten about.
In the end, she didn’t lose her job, and he was given a ride to the park entrance and told to never return.
CP Butchvarov
2023
Copyright © 2023 by CP Butchvarov