Of course the car wouldn’t start on the one day that I needed it. The vehicle had done little more than rust away in my garage for the better half of this year, save for when it had worked fine last week, and now? Now the piece of rusted metal wouldn’t start.
I tried to turn the key in the ignition again, my blazer already starting to stick to my arms with sweat. The summer heat was intense this time of year, especially in the middle of the day. The car engine hissed, whirred and rattled, before falling completely silent.
No dice.
What were my options now? I glanced at my phone. It was already 12:05pm. The interview was in half an hour and it was nearly an hour away. I rested my head on the steering wheel in frustration. Did I have time to find a car mechanic near me?
The engine might need to be repaired. I had skipped my annual service this year, which was the only thing about regular car maintenance that I knew I definitely shouldn’t do.
I knew there were coolant and brake fluids, but where they were and how to change them were a mystery. Aside from checking my tyre pressure, I didn’t know the first thing about what to do in this situation.
“This is karma,” I whispered to myself. The leather wheel felt cool on my face. A drop of sweat slid off my forehead and onto the smooth material. It was making it hard to think.
Even if I found an auto electrician near Underwood, there was no way I was getting to my interview on time. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself for what was about to happen.
There was only one person who lived nearby and could drive me to my interview. It would be tough being in a car with them, especially as stressed as I already was. But, desperate times called for desperate measures.
Reluctantly, I picked up my phone and called my dad.