Mark put out his thumb facing skywards as he moved closer to the road. This was a sign to the oncoming vehicle that he needed a ride and frankly, he needed it badly. He had hitch hiked over 300 miles on his way home from college and since the wagon carrying potatoes and vegetables which had picked him up from about 70 miles off and dropped him here over thee hours ago, he had not been lucky. Not even a shopping cart has driven by. But now, his heart has resumed beating loudly and his patience has momentarily lost it grip as the uncoming vehicle got nearer.
His journey has started over five days ago from Bartex. His school where was a medical student has closed for the session and like it has always been for the past three years, he has decided to hitch hike the 360 miles home since he does not have the fare back home. But this journey has been different. For the first 30 miles, he had ridden of wooden back trucks with friends and some villagers. The villagers song during the course of the journey and shared whatever little food they had. On the second course of the journey which should last about 100 miles, the lorry broke down and they had to spend the night in the bush. At night, the young boys went on a short hunting and killed some rodents which was used to celebrate a bonfire night while they shared two kegs of palmwine an old man had given them some miles back.
The uncoming vehicle stopped and he hopped on the back.. It was a lorry carrying goats and as the outskirt of his village became visible, Mark smiled. "It has been a great ride".