I stuck my thumb out, then rapidly withdrew it as the truck barrelled past, horn blaring.
I swore at them under my breath, as my brother approached from behind me, offering a bag of chips.
‘Dinner?’ he asked.
‘How did you know I’d be hungry?’ I joked. He didn’t laugh.
‘We’re never going to get to Adelaide at this rate,’ he said with a sigh. ‘And we’re running out of money.’
‘We’ll find someone willing to give us a ride,’ I shrugged, looking back at the deserted road.
‘Right,’ he frowned. ‘Colour me pessimistic.’
‘Josh!’ I punched him on the shoulder with a laugh. ‘We’re living the dream!’
‘Are we?’
‘Yes!’ I exclaimed. ‘We’re on the road, heading towards our dream jobs in Adelaide, which is working with the best disability service provider in the city!’
‘I guess,’ he sighed, disheartened. ‘I just thought it would be easier to get there.’
‘Adelaide is surprisingly far,’ I agreed with a frown. ‘But we’re closer than we were an hour ago.’
He turned around and squinted, pointing at a bend a little bit further down the road.
‘I think we were there an hour ago.’
‘And now we’re further!’ I said through gritted teeth. ‘Work with me here.’
He snorted, a slight smile working its way into his eyes.
‘Fine,’ he relented. ‘Optimism it is.’
‘Atta boy,’ I clapped him on the shoulder.
We were momentarily lit by the headlights of an oncoming car as it rounded the bend and began to speed up towards us. I let out an excited whoop and ran towards the road, thumb outstretched.
To my surprise, the car actually slowed down, the passenger side window rolling down.
‘Can I help you kids get somewhere?’ a friendly-looking woman stuck her head out of the window.
‘Yes, ma’am,’ I grinned, crouching down to look at her properly. ‘We’re heading to the city to work with an SDA housing provider in Adelaide.’
‘I have no idea what that is,’ she frowned. ‘But cool! Hop on in!’
I looked back at Josh, who shrugged.
‘After you, sis,’ he gestured.