Cal lived alone. His ex, Penny, and their two kids lived three hours away, near the coast. Now that he had lost his job, Cal spent most of his time at home, watching TV, or down at the local pub.
Long a fan of classic rock, he kept his bedside radio tuned to that station and awoke to it each morning. Recently, Cal noticed that the first song of the morning set the mood for his day. Indeed, it seemed to suggest what Cal needed to address or warned of potential problems. The other night, after a few beers, he told his drinking buddies about this discovery. They said he was nuts.
Even so, Cal looked forward to that first song and seriously considered what message it offered. This morning, he awoke to Riders on the Storm, by the Doors. Since that song was popular when he was dating Penny, he decided that he was being encouraged to visit his family, something he had not done in two years.
So, after having some cereal and a beer, Cal filled an overnight bag with his cleanest clothes and climbed into his rust-splotched pickup. Just outside of town, he saw a hitchhiker standing in the rain and pulled over to give him a lift.
