The Hitchhiker
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

I know that you take your chances when you stand on the highway shoulder with your thumb in the air. It was just that I had no money, and no real place to go. It seemed like the best way out of a home that didn’t care for me was to just walk to the edge of town and stand on the side of the road and make the sign. If somebody woud stop for me I was ready to go as far as they were, and then keep going.

Prince Connor sat in his lavish study, a glass of wine in hand, watching a recording of the trial's conclusion on a large screen. His expression shifted from intrigue to irritation as he leaned back in his chair, swirling the wine in his glass. The sight of Alex standing firm alongside Princess Helena, her loyalty unshaken, clearly displeased him.

"Huh," he muttered, narrowing his eyes at the screen, "I hadn't expected Consort Alex to completely abandon her parents like that. She played the part well—loyal, unflinching. It seems going after her family is not going to work."

Kitchen Area:
Shelly and Clair were busy making pumpkin muffins and banana nut muffins for the buffet line. They had already made over forty muffins and were glad they were selling like hotcakes. Shelly looks at the Clair standing next to her.

“You're really good at cooking, Clair. Do you have formal training as a cook?” Shelly was curious because it was like Clair knew how to do everything without a lot of explanation. It took her several tries under Pamela’s tutelage to learn the proper way to read a measuring cup and such.

Cybernetic Conversion: New Life

The year was 2074, a time when robots seamlessly integrated into every facet of life. AI technology had become humanity's greatest ally, propelling innovation and unlocking doors once thought impassable. In this era of technological marvels, the Cybernetics Institute for Advanced Artificial Life (CIAAL) stood at the forefront, pursuing a vision many considered impossible: the creation of cybernetic robots indistinguishable from human beings.

*** Author's note: This is like my normal stories. This deals with child abuse, neglect, abandonment. There is also other triggering themes in this story.

Chapter 1: The Day Everything Changed

Jake walked home from school like it was any other day, his headphones blaring some angsty song about rebellion and survival. It fit the mood he was in—school sucked, home wasn’t much better, but at least it was something. A roof over his head. Food on the table. A bed to crash on.

Rose wakes up the next morning feeling tired. Last night she had gathered some evidence that she needs to show Sasha and hopefully, she’ll be able to read the faded writing on the pieces of wood she bagged and brought back with her. However, right now she needs to open her garage and take care of business.

The escape attempt is on, their chances may not be all they appear to be... The losses may be too much to handle.

Chapter Two – Are We Lovers Now?

Lilly is enjoying life out of the closet in the company of her lover Peter but Peter is becoming possessive and controlling. She asks Detective Steve Vogleman, Peter's accomplice in crime, to help her and suddenly love blooms.

Welcoming Center:
A black, blackout window minibus comes driving up the long driveway leading to the vineyard. It stops in front of adobe style building where several people are outside waiting for it. The black minibus stops in front of the building and the door opens as a Native American woman knocks gently on the doors.

Uncle Charlie – Part Two

Julia tells her psychiatrist about Uncle Charlie's second visit. This time Uncle Charlie brings a friend to taste the delights that Julia has to offer. Julia is discovered in a compromising position by her mother and father and suffers the consequences.

Please heed the warnings as this chapter explores themes of coercion and reluctance.

Rose mingles with the people at the banquet. She keeps Sasha in sight, so she can talk to her. As for Ciarán, something about him was rubbing her the wrong way. It was a good thing she came prepared. She walks close to Ciarán and gently drops a small GPS tracker into his side pocket. She also scans his cell phone with hers.

While she is close to Ciarán, she listens in on what he is saying to some guy. They were talking about investments and the newest CEO of some company. Nothing that matters to her. She wasn’t into acquiring or having lots of money like her family.

I made my way out to the garage. It smelled of polish and petrol. It was a change from the domestic smells and perfume I have got so used to. I wear perfume every day. Now I am so used to it I don’t even notice it. Luca did though.

“Ahh Tesoro, you have come at last.”

Luca was around 50 years old. He had a slight pot belly, and short greying hair. He had what could be described as a “Dad body”. He was wearing a vest and had just been cleaning the limousine.

“You wanted to see me, Luca. Can I get you anything?” I said hoping that was all he wanted.

Part two for you - for future readers its best if you read this work in order...

As we drove along, mom explained a few things about the last few days. The hospital admitted to everything being their fault in what had happened, especially when dad had our family attorney speak with theirs. It was simple case of mistaken identity. Seems a 26 year old woman named Jamie Stone was in for the procedures I got, and scheduled for the 11am slot. Then I, Jamie Stone the boy was scheduled for my procedure at 4pm.

Rose dozed off several times during the day. She managed to get what she had to do, done and called it an early day. Her assistant manager Francis could handle everything.

Just before she laid down, she checked the results from the test she performed earlier in the day. It confirmed what she thought the explosives were. Someone had used a custom binary explosive that when you sent an electrical charge through it, exploded. She knew of only three
companies that sold the chemicals required to make those explosives.

Alex's jewelry business was gaining traction, thanks in large part to the invaluable support of her fellow consorts. They admired her designs and often showcased her pieces at events and social gatherings. Morgan, in particular, played a significant and irreplaceable role in promoting Alex's work. As a popular singer, Morgan's choice to wear Alex's custom jewelry during her performances was a game-changer, attracting attention and sparking interest in the unique designs.

Oh, do I have a tale to tell you….

The final day of my life, at least as I had known it up until that point, was a Sunday, which now
seems appropriate, if not a bit ironic.

The Baker's Dozen was a series of short stories I wrote under my previous pen-name, Shawna Stimple, featuring the Baker sisters, and the people in their lives, through the 1960s, and beyond. I'll be updating, and re-releasing these stories as I go through them, correcting the errors that came with my first attempt at storytelling. I do intend to take a crack at these again in the future, and possibly release this series as an anthology, fleshing out the characters a bit more but that's a little ways off. In the meantime, please enjoy this little trip back in time.

The first part of the series is the story of Jimmy Baker, a young boy whose father has recently passed. Being the only male in the household, he starts acting out, and after nearly ruining a family outing on a visit to his grandmother's, his sisters think they've found a solution.

Please enjoy, as in this story I play with a long underrepresented category, Bad boy to good girl, to bad girl.

Sasha and Susan’s Mansion, Beverly Hills, California:
“Man, today feels nice.” Sasha was floating around on an innertube in the pool.

All the kids were busy doing their own thing, and it was just Sasha and her wife, Susan. Neither one of them was wearing a swimsuit. They were in their birthday suits, enjoying the sun.

“I agree.” Susan dives into the pool and does a few laps.

Life Stolen By Mistake

Maverick No More Now Broken and Rebuilt

Weird Science Transformations Part 3

Authors Note: