“Can we change the station?” Topher asked.
“Not yet,” Cash said. “I want to hear what he says.”
“With the amount of money Cash Carter makes and the kind of fame he has, you’d think he would try really hard not to do anything to jeopardize his public image. You’d think he would try really hard to never make a fool of himself and embarrass all the young people looking up to him. Unfortunately, we all know none of these Hollywood types think that way. I mean, why take responsibility when you have a dozen publicists lying for you? Why change your lifestyle when everything is handed to you? Why take anything into consideration when it’s more fun to be a careless and spoiled little brat? Cash Carter is another example of someone with too much wealth, too much attention, and not enough intelligence to appreciate it. He should be ashamed of himself, but we should be ashamed of ourselves for sensationalizing this kind of behavior. We’ll be right back with more after this—stay tuned.”
The host’s defamatory rant was replaced with a commercial for the local county fair. The others were ready to defend Cash’s honor, but the actor never gave them any indication he wanted them to.
“Those are some strong opinions about a guy he’s never met,” Cash said.
“Gotta say I agree with him, though,” the serviceman said. “Privileged little prick. All those Hollywood actors are just alike. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’ll be part of that twenty-seven club.”
Obviously, the serviceman had no idea the privileged little prick was sitting right next to him.
“I think you’re giving him too much credit,” Cash said. “He’ll be long gone by then.”
The actor dug through his backpack and took three white pills from a prescription bottle inside. He looked out the window and was silent for the rest of the drive.
After an hour of nothing but open fields outside their windows, the tow truck finally pulled into a small gas station. Cash insisted on paying for the towing expenses and a new tank of gas since it was his fault they were in the predicament. The station’s pumps were outdated so he had to go inside to use his credit card. Joey had had to use the restroom for the past twenty miles, so he followed Cash to get the key to the station’s bathroom. Along the way, he came to a halt when something disturbing caught his eye.
“What is it?” Cash asked.
Joey nodded to a large Confederate flag displayed in the gas station’s window. All his father’s advice about avoiding trouble rushed to the forefront of his mind.
“I shouldn’t go in there,” he said. “I’ll just wait until our next stop.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Cash said. “The owner’s probably just a big Dukes of Hazzard fan. You’ve got nothing to worry about—I’m with you.”
“Actually, that means I should have more to worry about.”
The actor grabbed the timid teenager by the arm and forced him inside against his will. They approached an old man who was sitting behind the checkout counter reading a newspaper. He wore a cowboy hat and sported a thick mustache that was a few weeks overdue for a trim.
“Good morning, sir,” Cash said. “I’d like to pay for gas on pump number four and my friend needs the key to the bathroom.”
The old man stood to greet him but his entire demeanor changed as soon as he laid eyes on Joey. He stared at him with such disdain Joey felt like an invisible hand was pushing him backward.
“I’ll sell you gas, but your friend is out of luck,” he said. “We don’t serve his kind around here.”
“Why? Because he’s black or because he’s gay?”
“Cash!” Joey said like he was out of his mind. “What the hell?”
“Relax, I’m just joking.” Cash laughed. “And he was, too. Weren’t you, sir? Because only one of those old bigots who give the human race a bad name would say something like that. Right?”
The old man’s hateful scowl extended to both of them and he pointed to the door.
“Get your asses out of here!” he commanded.
“Cash, we need to go back to the car,” Joey said.
“WAIT!” Cash ordered.
As if he were being controlled by Cash through telekinesis, Joey stayed exactly where he was. He had never seen Cash look so angry before. The actor glared at the old man with as much hatred as they were being shown. Joey didn’t know which of them to be more afraid of.
“I don’t know what year you think it is, but it’s 2017 for the rest of us,” Cash said. “What you’re doing is illegal. Unless you change your attitude, I’m calling the police and telling them what’s going on.”