Mike and Jeff were best friends, but complete opposites when it came to directions. Mike wouldn’t step foot outside his house without consulting Waze, while Jeff swore by his instincts, which he claimed were “finely tuned by years of survival on family road trips.”
One day, they heard about an amazing new barbecue spot nestled in the woods, miles away from civilization. Mike entered the address into Waze, only to see the dreaded “Location not found.” He turned to Jeff, eyes wide with anxiety.
“No problem, Mike,” Jeff said with a grin. “I’ll get us there with my sixth sense.” Mike shuddered as Jeff revved up the car.
They drove past familiar streets and into unknown territory. Waze, defeated, displayed only a blank screen. Mike tapped his phone, praying for a miracle. Jeff, however, drove on confidently, making turns as if the forest whispered secrets only he could hear.
As dusk crept in, the road narrowed to a gravel path lined with crooked trees that seemed to shift when no one was looking. The car rattled, and Mike felt his heart do a little dance of panic. “Jeff, maybe we should turn back,” he squeaked.
“Turn back? We’re almost there!” Jeff said, eyes sparkling with the thrill of the unknown. A sudden thump echoed from the back seat, and both men froze.
“Did you hear that?” Mike whispered, as Jeff nodded slowly. They exchanged terrified glances. Mike opened Waze one last time, only for it to respond with a mockingly cheerful “Recalculating…”
Before they could react, a cackling laugh echoed from the woods, followed by a low, guttural growl. Mike’s phone vibrated wildly, displaying a cryptic message: “Lost, aren’t we?” Jeff’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, his bravado slipping like a mask.
“Okay, maybe instincts aren’t always perfect,” Jeff admitted as a shadow moved near the windshield.
Suddenly, the headlights caught a small, weathered sign that read: "Barbecue Heaven: Half a Mile Ahead." A wave of relief flooded them, quickly followed by a burst of nervous laughter.
Mike shook his head, chuckling. “Only you, Jeff. Only you could scare us half to death on a simple dinner trip.”
As they approached the warmly lit, smoky-scented restaurant, the eerie noises of the woods faded into crickets chirping. The two friends sat down at a rickety outdoor table, breathless and laughing.
“To instincts and Waze working together,” Mike said, raising a toast with his soda.
Jeff grinned. “And to never taking this road again.”
They both laughed, the tension melting away as they devoured the best ribs of their lives. And for once, even Mike admitted the journey was worth the scare.