Freedom

I was thinking about this tonight for some strange reason maybe it was the cool air,  the beautiful moon, or maybe it was just  sitting on the porch waiting on Phezie and Angus to do their business. I could blame it on my occasional Marlboro craving... 

I thought I would share it with you.

I worked a split shift of sorts at a call center for several years and travel about 40 minutes one way to work. My shift ended at 2:15 am and I usually came straight home. My good friend would call  once we got home and  we would talk for hours. It was hard to come home and go straight to bed.

I want to give you a little insight where I live before I begin this strange tale.  I live five miles from our small town and the road to my house is a well maintained it is up and down with long climbing hills.  It is not heavily populated now and even less then. 

Now back to my story...

I came home from work around 3:15 am or so I changed clothes, peeked in on my boys, grabbed a beer, ashtray, phone, and Deadhead Daisy, my Labrador Retriever,  headed out to the front porch to relax.  Found my lighter and a candle and a cigarette then  called my friend from work Heather.  I was sipping on my beer, Deadhead Daisy was laying on the wicker chair beside me when I heard someone say,

"Excuse me, can I use your bathroom?".

I screamed.

Daisy immediately leaped to her feet and began raising hell.

Heather was yelling what in the hell is going on?  Is that someone on your porch? Oh MY GOD!!! 

I said I will call you right back and hung up.

I finally calmed Daisy down and turned on the porch light. There stood a young woman in shorts, tank top, and bare footed.  She had nothing with her, no purse, no flashlight nothing.

I asked her if she was broken down or if she had ran out of gas. 
No, I am walking.
Alone?
Yes.
Where are you going?  I will give you a ride.
No,  thank you I want to walk.

She was crying and fidgeting with her hair.

I gave her a bottle of water and she used the bathroom. I asked her how long had she been walking. She had left Friendship around midnight and was walking to home to Saltville. I offered to drive her several times and  each time she said  no. I tried to give her a pair of shoes but she refused.

She thanked me and left.

I thought about the situation and decided to wake Doug up and get his opinion. 

I woke up Doug and ask him if he would go find her. Hell no and what the hell are you doing waking me up blah, blah, blah!! 

So, I called good ole 911! 
The dispatcher was as stunned as I was and said she would send someone out to see if she would accept a ride.  The policeman called me bout 30 mixtures later...She refused his offer and it is not illegal to walk at night.
Alone.

In the dark.
Barefooted.

Friendship to my house 5 miles.
My house to town 5 miles.
Town to Saltville 10 to 12 miles.

I told you it was a crazy story.