[ WP ] Steve leads an ordinary life , with an office 9 to 5 job . Then on his drive to work one morning he spots a hitchhiker on the road . He stops .

Steve stared at the road, day-dreaming that an 18-wheeler would tear over the barrier and crush his tiny Prius like a soda can, killing him instantaneously in a fiery explosion. He smiled as he imagined everyone from work sobbing over his casket, only to realize that as long as someone else bothered to make coffee, they probably would n't realize he was gone. 
 
 Then something on the road caught his attention, something that wasn ’ t normally there on Thursday mornings. It was a man, big, with a sign that read, “ Anywhere. Anyone. Don ’ t care. ” 
 
 For a reason he couldn ’ t explain and against every reasonable thought in his head, Steve pulled to the side of the road and rolled the window down. 
 
 “ Need a lift? ” he asked, pushing the door open. 
 
 The stranger slid into the passenger seat, set a worn out bag between his feet, and stared out the windshield. 
 
 “ Cash, grass, or ass? ” he asked immediately. 
 
 “ Excuse me? ” Steve replied a bit confused. 
 
 “ How do you want me to return the favor, ” the stranger said clearly agitated, as if he was having to explain it for the thousandth time. “ I can give you some money for gas, I can give you some weed, or you can fuck me. ” 
 
 Taken aback, Steve stuttered nervously. He was already regretting picking up the man. “ Oh that ’ s, there ’ s no need. Y-you don ’ t have to give me anything -- ” 
 
 “ Look, I know I ’ m a hitch hiker, but that doesn ’ t mean I ’ m a freeloader, ” the stranger said. He waited a second, then turned to Steve. ” Come on pal, give me a chance. ” 
 
 Steve checked his mirrors and pulled back onto the road. “ Uh, well then, some gas money would be nice. ” he said after a moment. 
 
 The stranger smiled and shook his head. “ This is embarrassing and I apologize, but I don ’ t actually have any cash. Lost it gambling. Never play poker with magician. Even a bad one. Bastard had a whole deck up his ass, I swear. ” 
 
 Not able to come up with a response, Steve drove in silence, mentally calculating how many minutes until the exit by the office. 
 
 “ But I ’ m sorry, ” the stranger said, “ how can I repay you then? ” 
 
 Steve thought about telling the stranger he did n't need any payment again, but seeing the man ’ s size and considering how quickly it had agitated him, he decided against it. Between the two remaining options, it was n't a hard choice. Steve did n't smoke, but that did n't matter. 
 
 “ Well, I ’ d be hard pressed to turn down some free marijuana, ” he laughed, trying to sound cool. 
 
 The stranger ruffled through the filthy backpack and pulled out an old zip lock bag. The corners of his mouth dipped slightly as he held it up and gave it a few shakes. “ Gee, looks like I ’ m all out of weed, ” he said with forced disappointment. 
 
 Steve gulped, desperately wishing that he was inside his tiny cubicle. 

