Sam Heads Overseas

We drove down [our] Street at 3am.

I dropped Sam off. There didn’t seem like there were any other cars on the road all the way there, but the drop off area at International was bumper to bumper.

As I drove out of the airport, I attempted to put music on in the car, but it wasn’t working. (Grrrrr! It was frustrating. Sam would say later, you have a new phone, it needs to be tuned to the car) So, I was distracted driving down the airport freeway, pushing buttons, and cursing, and generally hating the world, and I took the wrong turn off.

I realised what I’d done, but thought it is going, well, essentially, in the right direction, I’m sure I’ll be fine. I'm good with directions? What could go wrong?

I did think of the new phone aspect, I'm not completely clueless. I guessed it had something to do with that. I hadn't bought my head phones, so I didn't have music to distract me. 

The road kept going straight, and the street lights seemed to be falling away, and none of it was looking familiar. I knew Sam would call me any time, you know, he’d have got through check in and customs and whatever and I couldn’t still be driving, he’d know something was going on if I was still in the car. He’d know, and well, you know in the greater scheme of things it doesn’t matter, of course. But I thought I was being clever, and had planned it all so well. It had come together like clockwork. This briefcase will self destruct in 15 seconds after you have accepted the mission.

I realised I was actually out in the fucking country, the city was now clearly behind me, and all I could see was cows, I pulled over in the darkness. What I had I done? I had no idea where I was. Really, not a clue. I was punching Guido’s address into GPS of the phone, and it had just come up with directions and Sam called.

Where are you?

Why?

Where are you going?

Why?

Just tell me?

What do you mean? He clearly knew where I was, damn being with an IT guy. Truthfully, he probably has more than only one way of knowing where I am, our phones, and communication accounts are all linked.

What?

Are you going to Guido’s?

What? Yes?

I knew you were.

I took a wrong turn and now I am lost.

Just put it in Tom Tom.

I’m in the country.

Look at your iPhone.

I already have.

So, you’ll be fine.

Yes.

I knew you would.

I knew you would know that I would.

There was silence and then, Okay, I’m going.

The green line came up on the map only phone, so I set off again to Guido’s. I was more than pleased when I started to recognise where I was, that was a good feeling, coming out of the dark, so to speak.

It was still in Guido's street. Nothing seemed to be stirring, not even the proverbial mouse. I got the pot, right where Guido left it, in my 4am pot run spot. I'm not telling you where that is, of course. It has changed, actually, because Guido has done some renovations. I guess you'd say business is good.

I paid $62 for a pack of 20s at the 711 in Fitzroy. Jasus! Now that is the real crime.

4.30am. I was home.

Otto comes downstairs with me. I'd left them in bed upstairs. Brun only makes it to the first floor landing.

I make coffee. Sam calls.

It took you an hour to get home. 

lovely, says Sam.

Tell me about it, I am a dope.

Always distracted by music, says Sam when I tell him. I don’t know what it is with music all the time.

I roll a joint.

Of course, his last words were, Don’t get too stoned.

Yeah, yeah, whatever…