Hitch Hiking?
I was once driving from SE London back to Newquay on a mid-July Saturday, nice and sunny it was.
This was quite some time ago, I was considerably younger and roughly fitted the description of long haired hippy layabout. I was driving a black Bedford dormobile style van, sliding doors slid and locked back, enjoying the breeze.
I was aware my mode of transport had one leaky brake cylinder and I had to top up the brake fluid reservoir occasionally. I had vowed to make good the repair on reaching my home in Cornwall.
Just past Exeter I picked up a hitch-hiker, whose description could also be described as long haired hippy layabout. But he was a student and a little younger than me so he got away with it.
'Hi man' said he 'where you headed?' 'Newquay' said I, so he got in.
I was doing about 70 down this long shallow hill on a dual carriageway and when I braked the pedal hit the floor. Being aware of my misfunctioning braking system, I gently pumped the pedal until pressure returned and my brakes worked again.
I noticed my passenger glancing furtively at my driving style and after it happened a second time he asked 'Why do you keep pumping your brakes?' 'Don't worry' said I 'They do that sometimes, nothing to worry about'
He then went visibly pale (he was a white fella) and actually started trembling. He said quietly 'Could you stop and drop me off' No problem' I replied, 'next village ok?'
'No' he said in a slowly rising voice 'Now, right now. Please' He was speaking in a loud high pitched voice by now, how odd.
So I did drop him off right away, right there on the dual carriageway. His knees were wobbling as he walked off, he didn't even say thanks for the lift
Wot a wuss
Now then kids, don't try this at home, I was wrong wrong and totally wrong, I know now. But back then I was, er, irresponsible shall we say ?
And anyway, I'm still here, I did fix the van in Newquay and I never hit anything on that journey.
And how is this on topic?
Well, if you accept a lift as a hitch-hiker, you never know sometimes just what you're letting yourself in for