NationStates Jolt Archive

I take a step back to admire her. She was a testimate to American spirit and automobile technology. The dull gray 1991 Chevy Blazer was the ultimate road machine, capable of incredible feats of...stuff. There was some rusting on a quarter panel, the inside devoid of luxuries, just a built-in cassette player and radio. The AC didn't work too well and the front right passenger seat window tended to stick when it was being rolled up. It caused me alarm to see it come back up uneven and stop moving. I panicked and quickly attempted to correct the problem, which took some muscle, a pinch of long built-up anger, and determination.

"Dan, you know you'll probably either be arrested of killed by a hobo" my friend Frank says, not in a concerned tone, but as if he were reading off a script for the first time and didn't care if he got the part.

"Quite possibly, but at least the world will know my accomplishments" I scoff, "If I live, it will be a testimate to my will power to live and expose the truth"

"You're full of shit, I need a drink" Frank searches his pockets for a half empty pack of marlboros, selects one and lights it on fire, billows of smoke ascending into the air. "The Blazer won't make the trip, or at least all of it"

"You underestimate The Blazer. She is reliable and tough. At least my truck works" I add.

Franks white Chevy Corsica was impounded by the State Troopers two months ago when he abandoned it on Route 30 when the engine dropped out after he attempted to drag race with a known racer, Tony Kelso (a known asshole and adrenaline junkie). Before Frank abandoned his beloved car, he removed the license plate, all paperwork in his glove compartment, and scratched the VIN# beyond recognition. Also, he was high at the time and couldn't afford another drug charge.

"Shut it!" Frank snaps, nearly dropping his cigarette, "I'm going to laugh my ass off when I turn on the tv and see your charred out truck on CNN after you're chased by pissed-off hillbillies in West Virginia."

"I'm going to laugh when I turn on the local news and see you arrested for jumping bail for whatever future petty crime you committ" I retort, the comment stings him, causing him to fall silent. "Thats what I thought" I smile.

He just stands there and takes a long, awkward drag of his cigarette.

(OOC: Dan is about to follow in the foot steps of John Steinbeck, based off of Travels with Charley. It's going to have humor, romance, tradgedy, action, and plenty of in between. It's mostly a short story but you're more than welcome to post opinions or even get involved with the story by introducing a character).

It occurs to me that the hour is growing later the longer I stand there and argue with Frank, who doesn't share my ambitions and declined an offer to tag along with me earlier that day. I don't think he has any ambitions, at least legal/smart ones. I read Travels with Charley over and over again, feeling myself captivated by Steinbeck's travelouge. Always being a fan of his writings and literature in general, I aspire to be a writer our at least a journalist as well. That is why I decided just a few days ago to undergo a trip similar to Steinbecks. This great writer undertook his journey due to the fact that he believed he was dying and desired nothing more than to see his country one last time. I am far from dying but want to see my nation just as equally as him. The main goal of this trip is to compare the America he discovered to the one I will discover. Will I succeed? Will I fail? Who knows?

Suddenly, my cell phone rings, snapping me out of my dream state.

"Hello?" I ask, there is a pause on the other end, maybe someone is prank calling me.

"Dan, what's this I hear about you and some big...journey?" a familiar female vocie asks, a voice I didn't expect to call, it was Jenny, my ex-girlfriend.

"Yep, I'm going to drive around the country for...I dunno, a while" I reply, beginning to pace around the driveway while Frank stares off into the distance.

"Why? That just seems stupid" she says. I close my eyes, fuming with building anger. She never understood my hopes, dreams, and ambitions. Jenny broke upw ith me several weeks ago after coming back from Spring Break. Jenny and her friends traveled to St.Croix where she met some muscle-head who seemed to be the best thing for her at the time.

"It's not stupid, it's bold" I reply, searching for a better answer. "Why are you calling anyways?" I finally ask the burning question.

"Well-I just wanted to know if it's true or not"

"Are you calling to wish me luck?" I ask, Frank makes an obscene gesture at me but I ignore him.

"Kinda" Jenny says, "When will you finish it?"

"I dunno" I feel my patience growing thin, I know what she's doing. Jenny's too clingy and needy, maybe it didn;t work out with the guy from Spring Break and she's making a pathetic attempt to get back together. 'Listen, I gotta go" and I hang up before she can reply.

"She's a whore, you know" Frank states the obvious.

"Thanks Serpico" I walk to The Blazer and crack open the door, preparing to step in.

"Do you have supplies or stuff?" Frank asks, kicking a rock off the driveway.

"Of course, I have two spare tires in the back, a sleeping bag, pillow, CD's, some food, water, and a couple maps." I reply, feeling pride in the preperations that I made. I have plenty of money to make the trip...I hope. It won't be easy, and I really don't care if I'm stuck in some podunk town in Nebraska. There is no timetable for this journey, it could take weeks, months, or even years. I'm done with life here and lust to extend myself across the country.

The United States is not what it once was or what was intended to become. I am hoping that this trip will prove the world wrong, that there is more to America than just gross capitalism, consumerism, and a general sense of apathy.

"Dan, what do you think you'll find out there?" Frank asks.

"I dunno, it's a big country out there" I manage.