Midwestern Castaways
Saturday, August 26th, 2006As we cruised steadily down I-80, I eased on the breaks and slowed her down. Pulling Busosaurus over, I let her rumble and stall out. The crew in the back assumed the engine had faltered again.
“What’s up E? Clogged filter? Or the fuel pump?” asked Alan. Cat looked on ready to hop out of the bus for the pit crew routine.
“We’ll get her started again. There are some hitchhikers back there who need a ride.”
Jeremy walked to greet the stranded couple, Rich and Marie. 
The rest of us spilled out of the bus—Cat wielding her camera, Alan calling Maya on his cell phone; Luke and John began another round of boxing. I tossed a few slaps their way.
I looked over and Rich had walked back to the van, letting out their friendly golden mut. Cat, John, Lucius and I had been discussing how the bus could use a dog, not a permanent one that would require us to clean up after, but a temporary dog that we could pet and play with, then send on its way. The three of us chuckled and smiled at one another as our first temporary dog trotted toward us, tongue wagging.
We welcomed Rich and Marie aboard. They settled into the love seat in the cockpit, 
their dog scampering up and down the aisle. Cat and Alan coaxed Busosaurus back to life, Jimi Hendrix blasted through the speakers. Through the cracked rearview mirror I could see Cat dancing through the curtain, and Rich and Marie smiling at one another. With our temporary dog at my side, I drove west to Boulder.