We found ourselves stranded on the side of I-70 in the middle of Missouri. A location where it reminds you that it’s a good idea to believe in God, and if you don’t it’s a good time to start.
We were five miles from home after a non-stop flight from NYC coming off a delightful time with friends, despite feeling guilty about stranding my little sister with my puking toddler and despite getting shamefully lost on my way to Brooklyn, proving that you can, in fact, take the girl out of the city and the city out of the girl.
We barreled along the highway, debriefing our trip. We were excited to get home at a decent hour. We could reset the house, unpack and check in with work before picking up the girls.
We were mid chatter when we heard a thud and the car stopped accelerating. We swayed over to the shoulder as the 2006 pick-up truck puttered to a stop.
“What the hell happened?!” I asked.
“I have no idea,” Clayton said and flipped on the hazards as semi trucks flew by. “It seems like we ran out of gas.”
Ran. Out. Of. Gas. I thought. That is a key component of the driver’s job – to check for gas! I wanted to be angrier but with each pass of a semi, I felt our lives flashing before us and could only think, how terrible would it be to be yelling at Clayton moments before we die.
I immediately pulled out my phone and dug through my emails - praying that I had renewed our AAA account.
I found the info and called to report the incident. “A tow truck is on the way ma’am. ”
“Do you have an estimate of how long it would take for them to arrive?”
“Ma’am you’re on the side of a major highway- it’s an emergency call, I’m trying to get someone to you right away.”
Not helpful.
“Thank you so much. It’s appreciated,” I said into the phone— not wanting my potential last spoken words to sound like an asshole.
A few minutes later a local number rang on my phone.
“This is Alex from A1 towing. I just want to confirm with you to get your latest location,” he said with a deep twang in his voice.
“We’re between mile markers 124 and 125. Close to the underpass on 70 going westbound.”
“OH F*UCK” are you under the underpass?! It’s narrower under there. Oh shit.”
“No, but we’re close.”
“Oh, shit. Okay, oh Jesus, okay- well what’d you say happened now? I’m gonna get right there as soon as I can.”
“I’m not sure exactly. It felt like the car just shut down and we can’t turn the ignition” I said.
“Oh damn- probably the alternator. Or the belt. Or hell,” he continued pre-diagnosing the car, “is there gas in the vehicle?”
I said I wasn't sure and that we were eager to see him. And of course I said thank you.
Fifteen minutes later, he arrived. He hooked up the car to his truck and we slid into the seat next to him. Clayton explained again that it felt like the car ran out gas despite the gauge saying there was a quarter tank left.
“You really think it could be gas, huh?” Alex asked, “It’s probably worth swinging by the gas station before we head to the shop if you’re up for me to take y’all to the station up here.”
“Worth a try," we said.
We pulled off the highway towards the gas station. We got to the gas station and Alex filled up the tank while the truck was still propped up on the tow-bed. Once full, we turned the key, and the truck started flawlessly.
Alex turned his head towards us.
“I think I’m gonna smoke a cigarette. Y'all mind?”
“Go for it," Clayton said.
He reached into the front pocket of his work shirt and paused.
“Want one,” he said, extending the cigarette to Clayton.
“No, thank you.” Clayton said, sliding his hands into his khaki pants pocket.
“Yeah,” Alex said nodding, "I figured.”
Thanks as always to
<3
Emma, just wanted to say how much I appreciate the skill of this writing. I can almost see all the edits and your cutting room floor littered with phrases, words, and paragraphs that you decided would detract from the pristine sparseness of this simple, bone clean, story. It took me right through from start to finish, like a warm knife in the butter.
This line got me: “ location where it reminds you that it’s a good idea to believe in God, and if you don’t it’s a good time to start.” So funny and paints such a picture. Love this three-part New York saga