I had just dropped off a passenger when I got a call from an area code I didn’t recognize. I ignored it and let it go to voicemail, then listened to the voicemail—my usual strategy for avoiding spam callers.

“Hey,” said a decidedly non-robotic voice. “Uh, is this Justin? I hope it is. Anyway, I… look, this is crazy, but you gave me your business card at a bus stop a few days ago. And I know you were drunk and might not remember, and I’m out of my mind to do this, but I don’t have many options. My nana needs to get to a doctor appointment that’s with this specialist across town, and it’ll take hours to get there by bus, my car is out of commission, and, truthfully, I don’t have the money to pay for a cab. When we made the appointment we thought the car would be working—ugh, I’m sorry. I’m basically asking for a free or heavily discounted ride from a stranger… so if you’re not interested, you don’t have to call back. Uh. This is Thad, by the way. If you remember me. Okay, thanks, bye.”

I stared at my phone a minute, because I definitely did remember this guy, and I’d tried to avoid thinking about it since I woke up hungover the next morning. I was shocked at my own audacity and lack of shame, and all I could do was be grateful that I hadn’t tried hitting on him. I was amazed that he called me. I definitely would not be calling up a drunk stranger I’d met at a bus stop, even if I had no money. But he was probably from some small town in Alabama and didn’t know that you don’t accept rides from strangers.

I could sense the desperation and uncertainty in his voice, which his accent seemed to emphasize even more. I felt bad about subjecting him to my drunken ramblings after I’d puked over some guy’s lap, and I figured this could be a way to assuage my guilt over bothering him in the first place.

So I called him back.

“Hello?”

“Thad? This is Justin.”

“Oh. Oh! You called back.” He sounded shocked by that. “Uh, hi.”

“First I want to apologize for my behavior at the bus stop. I hope I wasn’t too creepy or weird.”

“No, it’s fine. You were very…” He trailed off in thought. “Friendly.”

Only when I’m drunk. “I should have minded my own business. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. But this could be a good thing, because I can absolutely give you and your grandma a free ride if you need it.”

“Really?” His previously cautious voice grew cheerful. “I can pay you what I can—”

“No, man, it’s fine. Seriously. We’ve all been there. Give me your address and I’ll see how soon I can be there.”

***

Thad lived in a little old bungalow on the edge of Inglewood, a place that could look cute with a new paint job and some landscaping that wasn’t half dead. The place was a fixer-upper, but not beyond repair. I recalled Thad mentioning that he’d just moved here, and he hadn’t mentioned parents—just a grandmother. It could explain the state of the dead grass in the yard and the fact that they didn’t have enough money to fix the gray sedan parked outside the garage.

I walked up the cracked concrete path to the small portico leading to the front door and rang the doorbell. Thad was quick to appear, and I filled in the holes of my memory of him. He was bigger than I remembered—not particularly tall (though taller than me), but a bit burly in a way that could be combination of muscle and fat. However, he had a baby face, which wasn’t helped by his fair skin and nearly white hair. I did recall the red splotch on the left side of his chin, and now that I had full use of my mental facilities, I figured it was a birth mark.

“Hi,” I said after he opened the door. “Remember me?”

“Hey.” Thad held out his hand for me to shake, which seemed oddly formal but I shook it anyway. “Thank you for coming. And for driving a stranger around the city.”

“I’m surprised you trust me after how I acted.”

“I don’t really have a choice, do I?” He gave me a small lopsided smile to inform me he was joking. “I’m really grateful that you’re willing to help. My nana needs to get shots for her arthritis a lot or else it gets real bad. Anyway, I’ll go get her and we’ll head out. You can come in if you want.”

I followed Thad into the living room, which had nothing but an old floral armchair and a TV on one of those put-together-yourself tables you bought at IKEA. There was a large framed photo on the wall of a younger Thad in a baseball uniform standing beside a chubby old woman who vaguely resembled him—his nana, I suppose.

Thad reappeared a half minute later with his nana in tow, who didn’t look much different than her picture. She was short and portly, with permed blond hair and a large round nose that she shared with her grandson. Upon seeing me, she smiled and took my hand, patting it firmly.

“You must be the friend Thad mentioned. Jake, is it?”

“Justin.”

“Oh honey, I’m gonna get that wrong a few times before I remember it.” She laughed, then released my hand. Her accent was even stronger than Thad’s. I couldn’t help but think of Paula Deen, but I had no idea where Paula Deen was even from. “I like your boots.”

I glanced down at the silver cowboy boots I’d decided to wear today. “Oh, thanks.”

“Well, I suppose we should get goin’. Don’t have much time to waste. Thank you, hon, for doing this. It’s real appreciated.”

“It’s not a problem. I, uh, owe Thad one.”

“How did you two meet again?”

I glanced at Thad, who shrugged.

“Oh, uh…” I looked at the portrait of Thad behind Thad’s head. “My friends and I were playing baseball in the park and Thad walked past. We just got to talking.” There was no reason to tell this woman that I hadn’t picked up a baseball bat since Stupid Gary made a futile attempt to teach me a sport back when there was still hope I’d turn out straight.

“He didn’t tell me anythin’ about that.” Nana looked to her grandson, then back to me. “He’s a real good baseball player.”

“Not that good, Nana,” Thad said.

She clucked her tongue and shook her head. “Don’t you be talking yourself down none.”

“We should go,” Thad reminded her.

“Alright, alright. Don’t hurry an old woman. Where’s my cane?”

“Here.” Thad held it out to her. She briefly patted his arm as well before shuffling to the front door, which Thad held open for her. He similarly held open the passenger door of the car for her, and then he settled into the back seat.