"If not, call us, well come get you." we hung up and I stammered around the truck racking my brain. Just then the wonder couple ambled back out of the store, pizza in hand. This time as they approached I stared through them or past them, up to my neck in my own mess. When the old man spoke to me I almost didn't hear him and I turned away and back towards my truck.

"Got a problem buddy?" I heard him say as I peered at my engine.

"Whaattt! " I asked in a perturbed tone.

"I said do you have some problems there?" I looked at him and he was nodding at my truck.

"Oh yeah...yeah it won't start, it cranks but nothing."

"I got one just like this at home it does the same thing once in a while, then it'll just start right up, how long ya been sittin here?" he asked.

"Not long, I dunno whet's wrong with it, it's never done this." At that moment she walked up behind us and smiled at me and he told her what was wrong.

"Just like yer truck Hon, he's gotta let it set a bit longer." So there I sat with the two of them the whole world on pause. Part of me wanted to tell them they were idiots. "Just let it set," I thought, what a joke. The old man introduced himself.

"I'm Billy, this is Tina. You're welcome to come and sit in our motor coach while you wait for it to start...we got some pizza." They both looked at me and smiled and I forced a grin in return. My truck sat there with the hood up and the sun was getting low in the sky.

"I don't know, I've got to get it going and get back home. People are waiting for me. Do you know if there is an auto parts store around here?" I asked and they just kept on grinning.

"It'll start just let it sit. Whet's your name anyway?" he asked.

"Jerry," I said and reached out to shake his hand.

"Come on over and sit down in the coach, Jerry. If it doesn't start after we eat then call a wrecker or like you say, find an auto parts store." Well I didn't want to run off with them anymore and I didn't even want to sit in their "motor coach" but I did and they proceeded to show all the workings of the beast and showed off the fully restored interior. Tina offered me pizza no less than four times and each time I refused telling her that I was going to a grad party and their would be tons of food waiting there.

At 9:02 p.m. I climbed out of the motor home and Billy and I walked towards my truck and he assured me it would start. I was planning my next move and was fully ready to call the wife and get a ride home or call a wrecker. I got behind the wheel and twisted the key, miraculously it roared to life and I looked with great astonishment at Billy who was now grinning ear to ear. We shook hands and I sped off feeling lucky to be moving again.

For the rest of the ride home my stomach growled with hunger and I thought of the two of them and the kid in the black car. I was nearing home just a few miles out and it was now fully dark my phone was ringing and it was the wife. I answered.

"Where are you?"

She was good and drunk now and I told her my story but she just explained how more people had shown up than expected and I should hurry up and get there. I assured her that I was almost there and was starving. We hung up and I drove on arriving in the driveway of the party ten minutes later. I walked in to a completely empty garage which was serving as the serving area. Most of the food was gone. I peeled through the serving trays and found an old hamburger but it was dry and cold. Just then my wife and friend walked in to greet me.

"You made it. Jean told me what happened. You should get a newer truck man," Daryl said. I nodded while my drunk wife hugged me.

"The kids came through here an hour ago and ate everything in sight." I sighed as my stomach turned in disappointment. "Except," Daryl exclaimed, "these steamed vegetables...and look bro' I saved this for us." He went to the end of the serving table and opened a huge cooler that was chocked full of beer and a chilled fifth of booze. I smiled lightly and took the bottle from his hands then took a huge pull. I made a monster plate off veggies and chased them with a cold can of beer. I wonder about Billy and Tina and if they still had any pizza.

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