Highway to hell

That’s what I felt like I was on last night. As I came home from work around 2:15 a.m. (I have a very screwy work schedule), I decided to stop for my “cheap” gas, since I had less than 1/4 tank left. It was still $2.29 and the other local places had hiked their prices up to $2.69. No-brainer, right?

The station is right before the exit for my house. I pull up to the pump, shut off the engine and filled up. Went to turn on the car again, but I got nothing but “click, click.”

Tried again and again, but the car wouldn’t start.

“I have AAA Plus!” I thought. “I’ll just call them!”

Get someone on the phone and they said a tow truck would be there within the hour. An hour goes by, no truck. I kept trying to start the car, but no luck. I figured it was the battery or the alternator. Asked the gas station attendant if I could use the bathroom, but in his broken English he told me, “It no work.” Things were hitting a crisis point. It was now 3:45 a.m. Called back AAA, who said it would be another 10 minutes.

Called back my husband, who was going to meet me at the mechanic’s and drive me home after the tow, and he’s like, “Did you try to start it again?” I hadn’t tried in about 20 minutes, but the engine suddenly cranked. I drove out of there like a bat out of hell and canceled the tow truck — who knew if it would ever have showed up.

Today, I brought the car to the mechanic. Thank goodness it was only the battery, which had lasted me 5 1/2 years — it was original. But the downside is that it cost me 80 bucks.

But better the battery than the alternator!

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