VII.

In the morning I saw a rattlesnake coiled up near one of the semi trucks. It could have been some other kind of snake but I just assumed it was a rattlesnake, they are the only snake that has the balls to sleep under a semi truck. I told myself that is why I slept on top of the picnic table, but I always do that because of mammals, not snakes. Cautiously I checked all my things for snakes. Aside from that, I was excited, I wasn’t the day before, I was passively enjoying the trip. Today, I was ready to go do something cool, I was going to play a twenty year old computer game with other people, in person, for the first time.

Navigating Texas was easy, Quite nice in the space between Dallas and the border. Grassy hills, some quaint towns. The rural scenery very sharply turned into a concrete landscape. The traffic got thick, though most kept their distance. For some reason I needed no navigation. I drove directly to this Hotel in which the convention was being held. I was surprised. It was early in the day, I think the expo had only begun a few hours before hand. I scouted around the property scoping out a potential place to sleep. There was a parking lot for events about a mile away from the Hotel that I think I had to leave the scooter and all my equipment in.

During the security check, I had a huge backpack and the people checked it. They did a terrible job. I had a huge knife on my person, and when I had found in my bag i was like, “Fuck, What am I going to do with this.” My clothes smelled so bad Though, I was a disgrace. But I had made it. Before I set up my table, I walked around and looked at sick PC’s and slowly became disappointed in the demographic. Nobody was playing quake. For some reason everyone was playing this game called Fortnite, Which I only had heard about through kids at the summer camp for the whole summer. I honestly Thought I would roll up and someone would be blasting quake two on an overkill PC.

I found my spot, It really wasn’t that great of a spot, one of the last ones available. I set up my tiny think pad and mouse, and tried my best to play games of quake. It was very fun, I will admit to being only a mediocre player. The magical part was meeting one or two people who I had played in real life, and then meeting another to play. I think putting at least one face to one of those players Humanized playing video games online for me. Not That I was a particularly mean person online, but now I would say I am far friendlier to the people I play online with after that. The convention while fun, was just a convention. You must take a break eventually.

That first night, I slept in a nearby parking lot with my bike. I fell asleep really fast, and I had only planned to be there for a few hours. After sleeping for 5 or so hours. I was awoken by a police officer. He asked me what the fuck, and I told him about he convention, He already knew all about it. Said his brother was there. The scooter made him laugh, So I got brushed off. He told me there were Copperheads on the pavement at night, its not a good idea to sleep outside. I asked him questions about snakes, I drew to the conclusion that his snake warning was him being nice about me not sleeping on the ground again.

That second day of the convention they had a contest. There was a prize raffle, and to get tickets you had to score points in a game mode they put together. The prizes were random, So I spent the whole day participating in attempt to get a T shirt. I ended up winning a bunch of cases of an energy drink. I had to give those away because I couldn’t take them on the scooter. I won some novelty sunglasses, and at the last Prize drawing, I won the T shirt. Three people offered to trade, and I turned them down. In celebration, I was smoking outside giving away bawls Energy drinks, and I met a friendly character. We got to chatting and I let it slip,

“Yea today’s my birthday,”

and after he found Out I was going to sleep in the parking lot. He offered me a room at the AirBnB he was staying at. I joined him, I think he was more scared than me about it. That night we smoked weed at the AirBnB and he showed me some videos he had made. Some kind of soundscape LSD visualization kind of videos. It was a scene I was unfamiliar with. Our appreciation for Thinkpad laptops kept us talking late into the night. I am glad I met him. I think I bought Doom eternal for Him when it came out.

The Third Day of the convention I frankly walked around drinking bawls energy drink watching people play PC games that my shit couldn’t handle. The new Monster Hunter, Fortnite, Doom. It was cool. I was even eating the whole time because those guys in Oklahoma gave me Chicken pot pie in a can. I was Running low on cash though, frankly It was about time to head home.

I had a long trip ahead of me after the convention. It wasn’t scary to me but I think I was over confident in my funding. I Think I was leaving the convention with maybe $28 waiting on my last paycheck from the summer camp. I lost my Goggles at the convention. I had to use novelty sunglasses on my way home. With nothing but a dream and 8 bottles of Bawls energy drink.

Crossing Texas at night was fantastic. Open skies, bright stars, flat dirt horizon. It was warm and humid all the way to Amarillo. There wasn’t much to stop and see after Wichita Falls, I kept driving Hoping gas stayed cheap. During the day I was digging out quarters and nickles from my bag to string together a few extra dollars. I Remember giving one of my last cigarettes away. They asked and I always give one, I won’t admit to regretting it later.

After a full rotation of the sun and nearly all of the mountain goat’s discography. I was north of Amarillo and Rather enjoying myself. I was anxious to get Home after a long summer, but I could feel the trip coming to end and I was getting kind of bummed about it. I looked for places to stop and see in the Oklahoma pan handle and southern Colorado. Twin buttes and all the national grasslands seemed nice. I turned the last day of driving into quite a few days of hanging out on the plains. I walked a lot, ate the last of my Ramen noodles.

Returning home was bitter sweet. Of course I was excited to see my friends and family. I was looking at everyone in a new light. I had never considered that I would have this moment of return. I told them all the best story they could hear, Most of it was the truth if not with a little emphasis. I have told a tale or two of course, but i think it didn’t matter; They couldn’t believe that little bike had the spirit, and maybe they thought I didn’t either.

I was proud that I had returned. It was not as if I had accomplished anything though, I just drove in a big circle, I didn’t do anything. I felt I had just come back from a backpacking trip, not some life changing journey. It was like 4 thousand miles. I Felt I was just beginning. It was a life changing journey if I admit it or not, but the winter was coming. Despite any efforts I could make, I was stuck couch surfing one more winter in the very least, I quickly had to find a job. Save some money, and try to see some more the next season.