George adjusted his huge backpack on his shoulders and squinted at the late afternoon sun. Joplin, Missouri lay behind him.
I hope I can get a ride to Tulsa tonight. The first tendrils of doubt about his brilliant plan crept into his mind. A two-lane highway stretched out ahead of him through the Ozarks. Deep shadows under the trees gave the forest an eerie forbidding feel. It seemed everyone had gone into Joplin for the night, since no cars were visible on this abandoned stretch of road.
Where is everybody? I thought this was America’s Main Street. George steeled his nerve, shook the doubt from his thoughts and began walking.
Several cars passed him over the next hour but none stopped. As each one ignored him, his curses became louder, viler and higher-pitched.
Don’t panic. It’s gonna
