The Hitchhiker Contract

Hitchhiker Contract

Tim and Laurie had made plans, they were both teachers, and it was the Easter Holidays. Two weeks off from the rowdy teenagers shouting and screaming at each other whilst they’re attempting to teach. It had been a long seven weeks since their last break and they were going to enjoy this holiday.

Tim and Laurie were both in their early thirties and had been working at their secondary school for around three years. Tim was an English teacher and Laurie taught History. It was a tough job attempting to teach eleven- to sixteen-year-olds. Too many of them didn’t want to be there and it was more like a day care centre. Some of them were like feral animals, running around, pulling pictures off walls, dropping litter and grunting like wild boars. 

For months now the guys had planned a trip to Devon where they could relax, eat beautiful food in picturesque restaurants and go for long walks. They had booked a two-bedroom house in Brixham, with a view of the harbour. Tim’s fiancée was planning to go, but she couldn’t get the time off from work. 

They loaded up Laurie’s Ford Galaxy with their luggage and off they went. They left at seven in the morning and joined the queue with the other holiday makers. On a good run they could get to Brixham from their West Sussex homes in around four hours, but they were expecting a longer journey being Easter. 

The first traffic jam they hit was at Tangmere near Chichester. The lads didn’t mind, they were listening to some 90’s Britpop and were having a great time. They tried to stay away from the subject of work, but they couldn’t resist naming their top five most hated student list. 

Laurie started off, “I will go with Harry Harriman at number five, not only is he stupid, he’s so loud.” 

The lads took it in turns until they got to number one. 

Tim said, “My number one has to be Lenny Jones, he’s rude, aggressive and extremely thick.” 

Laurie laughed and agreed with Tim’s choice. “You are so right Tim, I can’t stand that kid, he’s dad’s the biggest loser in town.” 

They were enjoying the moment and laughing until tears were running down their faces. 

Whilst moving around two miles an hour in the traffic, they couldn’t fail to notice a man in his 40’s with a guitar case on his back and a cardboard sign saying, “Anywhere Southwest”. 

Tim was in the passenger seat and leaned out of his window and said, 

“We’re going to the Southwest, jump in the back”. He had to shout because they were listening to Blur’s Country House. 

The hitchhiker got in, they turned the music down, the teachers introduced themselves and asked him his name. 

The hitchhiker said, “You can call me Sinbad the sailor man.”

Tim replied, “Okay Sinbad, nice to meet you. I noticed the guitar case, cool ‘Peace’ symbol, are you a musician?”

The hitchhiker said, “No, I’m not a musician. I need you to listen, just after Chichester there’s a petrol station, I need you to pull in, stay in the car and leave the engine running.”

Tim said, “Blimey Sinbad, we’ve not even moved yet, and you already want to stop.”

Laurie was taken aback by the bluntness of Sinbad’s demands. Laurie and Tim glanced at each other and the atmosphere took a downward spiral. For the next fifteen minutes nobody spoke. They passed through Chichester, and they could see a petrol station in the distance. 

Sinbad broke the silence and pointed it out. He reminded them of his commands and Laurie tried to ease the tension, he said, “Yes, I see it, but I want a chocolate Frijj milkshake please? I love them and I’m thirsty.” 

Sinbad just grunted and they drove into the petrol station. Sinbad grabbed the guitar case and walked off towards the shop. Laurie shouted out, “Don’t forget my Frijj milkshake!” 

Sinbad didn’t acknowledge him. 

“The chocolate one Sinbad, the chocolate one!”

The teachers had a heated discussion in the car. Tim wanted Laurie to drive off and leave Sinbad, but Laurie wouldn’t go. He said that they’d invited him onboard so they couldn’t just dump him, that was the unwritten contract of the hitchhiker.

Before they knew it, Sinbad had jumped back in the car in a hurry and said, “Drive, go on, bloody drive.”

Easy going Laurie drove off and rejoined the road. He then remembered his milkshake. 

“Can I have my chocolate milkshake please, Sinbad?” 

Sinbad ignored him. 

“Sinbad, seriously, where’s my chocolate milkshake? Did you buy one?”

Sinbad was growling like a grizzly bear, and said, “No I didn’t, I didn’t have time. Just bloody put your foot down and drive!”

Laurie’s cool persona was dissipating, he’d had enough of this rude man, and he snapped back into teacher mode. 

“What is your problem? Why do you think you can speak to people like this? I’ve just about had enough of your attitude. I’m going to spin the car around and go back to the garage to buy a Frijj chocolate milkshake.”

Sinbad upped the anti and opened his guitar case and pulled out a saw-off shotgun. He pointed it at Tim and said just one word, “Drive”, in a deep menacing tone. 

Laurie looked at Tim who looked petrified and gave him a reassuring nod and drove. He didn’t want Tim to die over a milkshake. He drove on for about five miles along a dual carriage way and passed a marked police car sat up in situ. As the Ford Galaxy passed it the police car gave pursuit. Blues and twos were on, and Laurie wanted to pull over, but Sinbad said, 

“Whatever happens, don’t stop.”

Two more police cars joined the chase and Laurie could see that there were traffic lights ahead. He had no choice but to slow down and stop. The police officers surrounded the vehicle with firearms and were shouting and screaming at them. All three passengers were handcuffed and arrested. 

They were taken to Chichester police custody but after several hours when the investigators realised that Tim and Laurie had nothing to do with it, they released them. Sinbad was remanded and they hoped he would be locked up for a very long time.