I was just trying to get home after spending a few days helping out my sister and her husband. The weather was lousy. It had been raining all day and there was no let up in sight, raining steadily, usually lightly but sometimes it came down in buckets.
Jack had broken his leg in a motorcycle accident the week before. Then Mary had to have an emergency appendectomy. Jack couldn't do a damned thing while on his crutches and he had three wild kids to take care of while Mary was recovering. Their neighbors had helped out some when she was in the hospital, but now that she was home, they all but disappeared letting Mary and Jack cope as best they could. We were their nearest family members. Hell, other than a few distant cousins, we were their only family on this side of the continent. Jack called me in desperation.
Lucy and I lived about two hundred miles away, on the other side of the Allegheny Mountains, and naturally I told him I'd come and lend them a hand. Lucy was her usual bitchy self, complaining that she now had to take care of everything by herself. What else was new? It was always her way or no way at all, so my absence for a few days wouldn't matter a twit. As far as missing me, forget it. The Ice Queen only wanted someone to bitch at and I wouldn't be available. I headed out Wednesday evening after work.
In a sick sort of way, it was kind of fun being with my sister's family for a few days, even though I had to work my butt off taking on the myriad rolls of cook, driver, and maid. I don't know how they do it. All three kids play soccer on three different teams. Naturally, they have three separate practices plus games scattered all over the countryside. It was fun seeing their kids being kids as compared to my kids who are brow beat incessantly to the point that they are afraid to wear a pair of shoes in the house or even shout in glee lest the wrath of Mother Lucy descend upon them.
By the time I left Sunday afternoon, Mary was up and about and had everything back under her easy control. I called and let Lucy know that depending on the weather and road conditions, I should be back home between seven and eight PM.
I was in the middle of nowhere, following a winding secondary road that I discovered years ago as a pleasant short cut (even though it usually took longer to negotiate than the state and federal highways) between my house and Mary's. First sign of trouble was when the power steering went out. Then I noticed the alternator wasn't charging. I knew then that the serpentine fan belt had broken and that I had at most only a minute or two before the car began overheating. Suddenly the temperature gauge pegged out. I shut off the engine and coasted to a stop. I was fortunate in that I found a place I could pull off the narrow road. I tried the cell phone, but I couldn't pick up a signal. I sat there for a few minutes contemplating my plight. It was still raining lightly and nightfall was quickly approaching.
I pulled out my map. The road I was on wasn't even on the map I had, and the best I could remember was that the nearest town, Onca, if you were so generous to call it a town, was at least fifteen miles away. Maybe I could get a tow into town and get the car fixed, but at 5:30 PM on a Sunday afternoon, the prospects weren't good even if I could make a phone call. Shit! I was in a pickle.
I hadn't seen a single car pass me since I got on the road and after waiting in vain for a half hour for a Good Samaritan to rescue me; I decided that I needed another plan. Up ahead I had noticed a light, barely visible in the misty gloom. When the drizzle slacked off enough, I could barely make out that it was a cabin. The mist cleared momentarily and I could plainly see smoke coming from the chimney. Somebody was home!
I decided that rather than sit and wait for someone who might never come by, I would walk up to the house and ask to use the telephone, maybe even bum a ride into town. The rain had slackened off quite a bit so I put on my jacket and ventured forth into the elements. When I was about half way between my car and the cabin, I heard an explosive crack of thunder and then the heavens opened up with a downpour. Within seconds I was drenched through to the skin. In misery, I trudged on towards the cabin.
I could see as I approached it that the cabin wasn't much. There was a lone beat up pickup in front, sitting up on blocks, with the left front tire missing. As I got closer, I could see that the front brakes were disassembled. So much for catching a ride into town. I looked around for the requisite hound dog lying on the porch and finding none, hazarded on to the porch and knocked on the door.
The deep barking let me know that the dog was inside, warm and dry. The door opened partway. A dark haired young woman peered out at me. "Can I help you?" she asked with a hint of suspicion in her voice.
"Uh, yes. I'm Tom Quincy and my car broke down up the road apiece. Could I use your telephone?"
"Papaw! Papaw, there's a fella out here who needs to use our phone!"
A tall gangly fellow with a beard and his hair pulled back into a ponytail replaced the young woman. He looked me over. It wasn't very cold but I was chilled to the bone. After a minute or so of just starring at me like I was some sort of freakish alien or something he said, "You're soaking wet!"
I needed help. Not wanting to offend this hick, I contained my normal sarcasm. "Yes, my car broke down and it's raining." A broad smile came across his face. "Come on in fella and warm up." As I came through the door he offered his hand, "I'm Tripper and this is my daughter Amy."
A huge black Labrador wagged its tail and nuzzled my hand. Having gained my scent he turned and lay down by the wood-burning stove.
"Tom Quincy of Middleburg."
"Nice to meet you Tom. You sure picked a bad day to breakdown. Sorry, but the phone line's down and my truck's not running. Doesn't matter anyway, Bill's Garage is closed. He won't come help you out until tomorrow, provided the phone company gets the line fixed tonight. You're welcome to stay here tonight. It's not much, but it's warm and dry."
