When broke, don't drive
You know you are in trouble when you only have enough money to either eat or pay for petrol... and you have to make a choice.
You know you are in even more trouble when you remember that your mobile phone line is out of credit and you will not be able to call for help if anything happens.
Inevitably, by the time you come to this realisation, you have already decided on the eating option -- but since you are not entirely reckless, you have pumped ten dollars' worth of petrol into your car. You hope and pray that this will suffice.
Of course it doesn't suffice (or else there wouldn't be anything to blog about).
You know you are in trouble when the car engine starts threatening to die on you. And then actually dies.
In such a situation, you need a friend who:
- Is in the area
(so it will not take him aeons to arrive on the scene) - Knows the area
(so he will understand where you are when you describe your location to him) - Has his own means of transport
(so he will be able to make his way over) - Is in funds
(so he can help you pay for the much-needed petrol) - Is willing to help
(so he will immediately rush to your rescue) - May roll his eyes but not think any less of you for getting yourself into such a predicament
(so although you feel embarrassed, you will not feel like a poor dumb failure).
You also thank God that your car is not blocking a busy junction, that it stalled in a housing area, that when you went to one of the houses to borrow a phone to call your friend, the fellow in the house didn't think you were some crazy conwoman, and that you happened to be in a shady spot near some trees so you are protected from the stinging heat of the sun's rays.
You take pictures of the sky and the grass whilst waiting for your friend to arrive. Then you sit down and talk to God. Then you sing hymns. All the while thinking, "This is damn bloggable."
All of a sudden your friend is there! He pours six dollars' worth of petrol into your car, before bringing you to the nearest petrol station to put in another twenty dollars' worth. After that, he suggests taking a break to destress. You guys go for tea... and he pays for your Coca-cola.
He doesn't make a single reference to your sorry plight. Doesn't even tease.
Thanks, Kevin. I can't tell you how much I appreciated your willingness to help me today. You're a true friend :)