“I hope so.”
“Sometimes, I’m not too sure I want them to. My hunches can be good or bad.”
I thought the magician was going to leave, but instead he asked, “So, where are you headed?”
I didn’t rightly know what to tell him. I couldn’t just say out of the state without arousing his suspicion, so I said, “I’m on my way to California, too.”
“Really? What a coincidence. There aren't any other cars parked out front. Are you hitching a ride?”
Now, my mama told me never to take a ride from strangers. She said, “There ain’t no such thing as a free ride. Them strangers will expect you to pay them one way or another.” And I knew exactly what she meant.
“I’m not the type of girl to hitchhike,” I said.
He looked surprised. “You’re not planning on walking to California?”
“That’s what I aim to do.”
“Do you have any idea how long it would take you to walk to the other side of the country?”
“Not really.”
“And how dangerous that would be?”
“I guess I hadn’t given it all that much thought.”
“I think you should ride with me.”
Part of me was hoping he would ask me to ride with him, but I was also kind of scared on account of him still being a stranger of sorts.
“That’s a mighty fine offer but I don’t have the means to pay you for the ride.”
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
"You sure do have a funny way of talking."
"You know what, so do you. Will you ride with me? I’d love the company.”
I didn’t give him my answer right away. I closed my eyes for a second to see if I’d have any bad hunches. Wouldn’t you know the greatest feeling of joy went through my entire body. “I think I will be taking that ride with you, if you don’t mind.”
“It would be my pleasure.”
He walked me out to his car. It was one of the strangest looking vehicles I ever laid eyes on. I could tell it was a new car, but it looked antique. Painted on the side was a big picture of a magician’s hat and a magic wand.
“Your chariot awaits, my lady,” he said as he opened the car door. “That’s all you have?” He pointed to my duffel bag.
“My mama taught me to be a light traveler.”
“Okay, then, light traveler. You know, I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Alice. Ally for short.”
“I like Alice. It’s not a common name for people our age. I swear if I meet another Megan or Brittney, I’ll scream. I’ve never met an Alice before. It’s nice to meet you, Alice. My name is Lewis.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lewis.”
He held out his hand and I shook it. It was a little more than just a friendly handshake but not too much more. I was surprised by the little tingle I felt all through my body when our hands touched.
“Shall we?” he said and we both got into his car.
“Are you still hungry?” he asked.
“I think I just got even more hungry if you can believe it,” I said.
“We’d better try to find something fast before we both pass out. I think this constitutes a food emergency.”
Bill’s Place was the only eating establishment we saw for quite a few miles. All we passed were pine trees and some old broken down trailers. Of course, it might have seemed longer because I was so hungry.
Lewis got to talking, though, and he told me about where he came from and how he got to be a magician. “When I was five,” he said, “my family moved from Queens to Florida. I was just starting first grade when we bought a house in Miami. It was awful. All of the kids at school made fun of my New York accent and called me names. My dad thought it would be a good idea to teach me some magic tricks that I could do for the kids at school. I guess he figured it would help me be accepted. The kids still made fun of me but I fell in love with magic and I’ve been a magician even since.”
“I hope you’ll show me some of your magic.”
“Now that’ll cost you.”
“I told you I don’t have any money.”
“Not money, I want you to tell me about yourself. Like why you’re on your way to California?”
“Well, I wanted to get out of the state and California was about as far away from Florida as I could get.”
“Just about. Why do you want to get out of Florida so badly?”
“Let’s just say I had some man troubles and leave it at that.”
“Okay. I didn’t mean to pry.”
We drove for a while and I got a chance to take a good look at Lewis. He had the appearance of a boy who was just becoming a man. He still had a smooth face, not too much hair growth yet. And he had the finest curls I ever did see on a man’s head. His hair was as dark as street tar that had just been laid. Now being that I was what you’d call fair-haired, I sure was attracted to Lewis’s dark features.
“Well, would you look at that?” Lewis said pointing up the road. “I think we’ve found us some grub.”
“I have me a big appetite right now,” I said.
“How does McDonald’s sound?”
“I’m not going to complain about that.”
“McDonald’s it is, then.”
Lewis pulled up to the drive-in window and both ordered a couple of burgers and some pop.
“Do you want any fries with that?’ Lewis asked.
“No. I don’t much care for French fries,” I said.
“Me neither. See how much we have in common?”
“I suppose we do,” I said.
Lewis kept driving while we ate our supper. It felt good to have a full belly again. I could see that it would be getting dark soon and I wondered if Lewis would want to stop and have a rest. And if we did make a stop, what would the sleeping arrangements be? I had never slept beside a man before, except, of course, for Billy.
"It's getting pretty late,” Lewis said. “Maybe we should think about finding a place to stay."
"You read my mind. I was just thinking the same thing.”
“Well, I am a magician.”
“I just want you to know I don't have much money to put toward accommodations. But I sure don't mind sleeping in the car."
"Don't be silly. I don't want you sleeping out in the car. It wouldn't be comfortable and it isn't safe. I don't mind sharing a room with you, Ally. I have three sisters. You'll be like an honorary sister. And I'll make sure we get a room with two separate beds. Okay?"
"I suppose that would be okay."
"Then