Close to Home by John McPherson for February 11, 2021

Hit the gas honey.

Pretty good racket!

“If you give this man a ride sweet Emily will die…”

Seems legit.

It’s not worth it. You’d have to fumigate your car afterwards.

Nope, keep driving lady!!

There are cities this actually happens

Sounds like a fair tradeoff to me…

In the right place and at the right time, that could work.

So tempting.

Weigh the Pros and Cons. Should I speed up? Should I switch lanes? Should I never take this way again? Should I try to see the person inside?

So the slug lines in DC? Until the pandemic there was a system in place where, at various points, one could pick up strangers so you could drive in the HOV lanes. You cut your commute time significantly and they got free rides.

Is that George and Lennie from “Of Mice and Men”?

I’ll stay in the slow lane, thank you

Around big cities, there are traditional spots for picking up people, so you can drive in HOV lanes and pay lower tolls.

Okay, so I know “profiling” is bad. But so is failure to recognize your defensive limitations.

Wait, up ahead, it’s those two again! ( Twilight Zone )

NOT!

I live in the country. Do they still have car pool lanes? I thought that was a 70s thing.

Would be more like the cesspool lane.

Hmm, I see two possible scenarios:

Always the caring soul, Beulah risks her safety and pulls over to give a ride to the two rather seedy looking hitchhikers.

or…

Beulah pulls over and adds two more unsuspecting hitchhikers to her trunk!

Those aren’t the characters from today’s The Argyle Sweater, are they?

Not worth it!!!

The common term for such riders is “slugs” and in this case it is a very apt name. She should ask herself, “well do I feel lucky”.

Hey SHE might actually the crazy one….

Those two guys should look at themselves and ask, “Would you pick this guy up?”.

In the 60s and 70s hitchhikers of both sexes abounded here in LA/Orange County. No more, too dangerous—for both the driver AND drivee.