Tuesday, July 28, 2009

helping hands come in the situation you least expect

i went to the gas station on franklin street. after pre-paying and filling up i got in and turned the ignition. the car started momentarily then died. i tried again, but it wouldn't start back up. i kept turning, hoping it would work, to no avail. i looked around, still turning it over, hoping some passerby would be able to lend a hand or advice... nothing. i said, "shit, well, i can't even call anyone, i don't have anymore minutes" and put the car neutral, got out and started to push the car backwards towards the parking lot. the somali lady next to me at the pump came over and said something quietly, i couldn't really understand, and then started to help me push, so i smiled, saying, "thanks." once i had a good momentum going she said something else, again i couldn't understand over her accent and my heavy breathing. i looked behind me and saw she had stopped pushing so i smiled and waved. after having pushed the car into a spot, i got in and sat for a moment, thinking. i turned the ignition again just for the sake of it, and it started up! "hellll yeah!" i exclaimed. i drove the car back over to the pumps, got out and walked over to the woman. she said, "oh, it's working again, huh?" and i said, "yeah, i don't know what you did, but after you touched it it started right up! so i wanted to say thank you. i guess you have the magic touch." she smiled and chuckled in surprise at the remark. i happened to touch her elbow in appreciation. later out on the road i started feeling really high and happy, and my legs were all warm. it was like when the people would touch jesus' robes or something.

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