Rather wake ya up than scrape ya up

At the time I wasn't exactly sure what the muffled CB radio noises had to do with the blonde or my failing attempts to pick her up. Then I realized she only existed within a dream and the radio noise was very real. So I opened my eyes, pushed my blanket to the side and looked in that direction. There was indeed a man in uniform at my window.

You see, when I travel at night and get tired I usually pull over for a quick power nap. They last about 15 minutes and then I am back in action. This particular nap was painfully near my destination but even more necessary. The nap turned out to be twice as long as anticipated. Either the length or the rude awakening made for a well-rested, raring to go, me.

We are in southern Arkansas; I had driven all night from Austin, Texas; My car and driver's license are both still of Nebraska.
I rolled down my passenger window and in my most southern backwoods drawl I say "yes sir officer" in retrospect my tone may have been lax or even unsuspectingly in a can I help you sort of way.
"Everything alright."
"Yes sir I was just taking a little nap."
"You get a little tired there did ya?" (Ever notice how we ask questions after we have the answer, almost in a Jeopardy fashion.)
"Yes, just trying to rest a bit."
"You got everything you own in there?" (I start to laugh, then he continues) "I mean I see a bicycle, seevral bags, some drumsticks...you in a band or something? (This guy was good. The bike anyone can see but the drumsticks are under a bag and at most one-thirty seventh visible. I should also mention that I am a little over zealous when it comes to being prepared. As I begin to explain this to him and my situation of not knowing the duration of my trip or where all it will take me, he gets a call on his radio. I missed what was said because I was...well actually listening to what I was saying.)
"Can I see your driver's license?" (I looked him in disbelief as I started to reach for my wallet.)
"Just procedure; not saying you've done anything wrong"
"Right;(still taken aback) You want the whole lot: registration and insurance."
"No this'll work. I'll just run it and you can be on your way. I mean you've done nothing wrong, I'm just checking on you"

As he goes back to his car, I realize the situation I have found myself in. Almost as if the creativity professor has kidnapped me and I now only exist in her world with the strangest, most unimaginable things. this officer may have thought many a thing upon seeing me on the side of the road. I was dead. I was trying to live out of my car. I was on the run. I was trafficing drugs. It kind of seemed like this was just the 8:20 wake-up call for vagrants.

"Look, I'm glad you stopped. Next time just try to find a parking lot somewhere." (I would have parked in a lot had there been one within 50 miles in any direction. While I was in Texas I had taken a 15 minute nap in a parking lot, mainly because it was available and God Bless Texas they use the shoulder to allow people to pass. Even here though I was parked off the shoulder on the grass, where a ditch would have been between the woods and road.)
"Well, I am glad you stopped." I replied, "Good to know I'm being looked after. I can only imagine how it might have looked."
Over the radio I hear a "...now hold on I'm getting a prior Arkansas DL for this guy, just wait a second"
I interject, "I'm originally from Arkansas; Little Rock and my dad lives in Warren. That's where I'm headed now."(All this is said while he dismisses the guy on the other end of the radio)
"Well, I just wanted to make sure you were breathing. And like I said, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm just glad you stopped. I would much rather wake you up-"
"than scrape me up?"
"Yeah or pull you out of a tree or have to call the paramedics"(we laughed and he smiled then nodded)
"Alright, well, you don't even have to leave now; take your time; do what you need to do."
"Thank you"

Yes, thank you officer Brumley.