The Hitch Hiker

The moon shone over the moth black hill. I had to get to Queenstown by dawn. I could feel my heavy eyes lowering like the sun setting in the evening. The winter festival was counting on me to be there. I’m the Manager of the festival. The car clock struck 4.00 am. I glanced over to my petrel monitor. I was running low. A sign for a sever station was ahead. As I approached the station I noticed an old lady toddling down the icy road with the hitch hiker thump held up. She looked like she was struggling to walk as she had a wooden stick to help her. I pulled up to her. “where are you going?” I asked her. “Franklin in Queenstown”. Her voice was soft but had a lot of mysterious things going on in it. I opened door to signal ‘come on in’. She had grey curly hair with a psychedelic head ribbon and the widest and wise eyes I have ever seen at 4.15 in the morning. She was wearing a long groovy dress that draped over her whole body. Over her weak frail shoulder she was caring a brown bag with what looked like some sort of hard ball in it. “Where are you from!” I asked her. It was a long minute before she answered. Like she was taking me all in. “Auckland I can sense stress in you my darling”. The car was silent for a while. I just couldn’t get over what she said. I had constant thoughts going round like “is she psychic” and “should I have let her come in”. I decided to break the silence. “I’m from Auckland to”. “Well thats quite a coincidence . May I asked, what is your name?”. “Mickey Long you?”. “Bella”. “Funny, I had a granny who lived in Auckland. Mum said she died years a go though. But I think she is still out here.” By now it was 5.30 am. We just past a sign saying 100k Queenstown. “Mickey take this road”. I didn’t wont to debate so I did as she said. “There is traffic up ahead on the hi-way”. “How do you know?”. This road was getting winey and getting narrow.We came to the end of the narrow lonely road and back onto the hi-way. “I’m going to the opening of the winter festival. I have a new age hippy stall”. said Bella. “Ha. Me to”. We finally arrived in Franklin with 30 minutes to spear. “Want a coffee?”. I asked. “Not thanks dear”. I trotted into the Cafe. “One fla...”. I didn’t even finish my sentence. I glanced out the dirty window to see Bella screeching down the road. I franticly looked in my bag for my keys when I noticed a envelope with my name on it.

Dear Micky Long
I am sorry to say but I have taken your car and you
will not get it back. I can not tell you where or why
I have gone. Not to worry I have left you some
money for a new car. If you don’t mind please do not
call the cops.
Bella Long your Grandma xxx.

I looked in my wallet and there was a queue for $50000. I guess there is only one thing to say. “Good old Granny”