"...wE mUst bE thE chAnGe wE wiSh tO sEE iN thE wOrld..." K.G.

2/25/2010

aLaBaMa

it was hotter than a sweat lodge with the heat on the day my mom accompanied me on the country paper route i had. Alabama is known for it's sweltering humidity... no matter how cold you kept your home, a few minutes outside left you soaking wet with sweat.

the paper route i had was a 30 mile round trip nuisance in the country, where homes were in clusters half a mile apart. before departure to deliver the newspapers, i had to sit in the heat and stuff each one in a plastic bag so that as you flung them onto the driveway as you drove by, it didn't tear up the paper. rather, it "slid" into place via the plastic bag much like a runner slides into home in a baseball game.

my mom decided to come with me that day to keep me company. she sat next to me in our pick-up truck with the plastic bag of papers piled all around us. she'd fling out her side and I'd drive and fling out mine. we started at 4pm and usually finished before it got dark. but tonight it would be different. tonight would turn into a matter of life or death...

we flung the last paper and were headed home. suddenly, i had a blowout so i pulled over to the side of one of many isolated back country roads we had to take to get back to town. i was going to unscrew the lug nuts to change the tire and realized i had no crow bar.

fuck.

we sat there for at least 45 minutes, contemplating the situation. [this was in 1979 prior to cell phones]. i told mom i was going to flag down the next car that came down this road. but there hadn't even been ONE the whole time we'd sat there. we were in the middle of nowhere, thick trees lining both sides of the road, and not a house to be seen that i could walk to for help.

the bugs were biting our sweaty skin. the crickets and June bugs sang loudly in the background. it was F.U.C.K.I.N.G. H.O.T. we were out of water to drink, i was getting scared, and i had to pee.

all of a sudden a truck came around the curve. it reached us before i could navigate myself out of mine to flag it down. he pulled over behind us and sat there. he just sat there as if he were thinking of whether to help us or not. then he got out of the truck.

it was a black man prolly in his 50's and dressed in coveralls. he approached us, i got out, and he asked me what happened. i told him and he walked around to look at the tire, scratching his head. then he said he needed to check under the hood in case anything was wrong there.

i felt a knot growing in my gut. i began to feel fear and my heart raced. you didn't need to look under the hood to fix a flat.. i didn't know what to do so i explained it all to my mom in French. i saw the color leave her face.

he tinkered under the hood and kept going back and forth between the two trucks. yet he did nothing. he didn't attempt to change the tire. he kept muttering to himself as he walked.

it was dusk now, and i could barely see around us let alone what he was doing. i felt like i was going to faint. he'd tinker under the hood and then ask me to try the ignition. the truck was dead. i had power before he arrived but now my truck was dead. flat tires don't affect the engine.

if you have never been in the country in the deep south without street lights or a moon's glow to illuminate your surroundings, you can never believe how dark it can be.

black

he must have tinkered and tried "this and that" for over an hour. i kept saying "it's the tire" to which he would reply "no, there's something wrong under here". my mom was speaking in French to me saying she had begun praying for our safety. 

something just wasn't right with this man... she wanted me to get back in the truck, roll up the windows and lock the door but i couldn't with the heat, we would surely suffocate. i began to shake as i stood on the road, i was so scared.

the man said he was going to get something out of his truck. he walked over to it and put his headlights on which blinded me, and i could no longer see where he was. i heard his door close, then i saw him walk towards us.

as he came out of the light enough for me to see, i noticed he had a shotgun in his hands. just as suddenly as i saw the gun, lights came around the curve of the road and i KNEW whoever this was, i was going to flag them down for help.

i cant even explain my fear or how quickly it all happened. i got in the middle of the road and stood so the car couldn't pass without hitting me. when it stopped and my eyes could adjust to see, i realized it was a police car!

i ran to the officer and blurted out that i needed help. he quickly began to speak to the man and asked to see his gun permit and license, which he had. [nearly everyone has guns in the deep south so it didn't seem odd]. then he asked him whether or not he could change the tire. he said of course and had it changed within 5 minutes. then he got in his truck and drove off speedily.

the police officer said he never comes home this way, as it's longer for him after his shift. but tonight, something MADE him come this way. he couldn't explain it.

i then told him my truck was dead, and how the man said something was wrong under the hood. we looked quizzically at each other, and with his flashlight looked under the hood. we saw the cables had been disconnected from the battery. the officer and i reconnected the cables and my truck started.

it was as if we both realized the man's intentions at the same time. we had been on the side of the road with him "attempting" to help us for over an hour. what was he going to do with the gun? the policeman called in something on his radio, then said he was going to follow us home to assure our safety.

i was in shock. i knew i came close to dying that night because i truly think he was going to rape and kill us. what other reason did he bring out his gun, and why did he disconnect the battery so i had no power? and how come he could change the flat in 5 minutes, suddenly?

my mom and i drove home in silence. my husband was awaiting us.

i knew right then and there that god sent that officer to save our lives that night. and being the shut down person i was back then, i didn't process my feelings until many years later when the reality of the danger, hit me.

this is ONE time i could have died and didn't. there are many more.

thinking about this, and the other times over my lifespan when i COULD HAVE DIED, is kicking me out of the fucking depression i have been in the last few months. i am still here for a reason.

i need to figure out what it is and start living again.

crp

 

P.S.

i posted this. then my boss called me to inform me she can no longer keep my position open at work. i have surpassed my 90 days of allowable recovery time. i am eligible to maintain my salary and seniority within the same company until November. BUT i cannot apply for another job whilst i am on workman's comp. when i am released, i will have to find a job at that time. but ummm, there will be NO income until i do. so, like erm, WTF am i supposed to live on until i do find another job?

one step forward, two steps back...

everything happens for a reason...

when one door closes, another will open...

trust in the lord and lean not on your own understanding...

one flew over the cookoo's nest...

crp

 

11 comments:

Busy Bee Suz said...

Oh my gosh C...this has me shaking...my heart is pounding and I feel so sick to my stomach.
You poor thing, I just can't imagine the fear that you felt.
Do you think that perhaps since your Mom was with you on this trip, that could be the other reason you were not harmed? Perhaps since there were 2 of you, he hesitated on what he was going to do....and then the cop. Oh thank you LORD for him.

I am so thankful that this story ended well...scared, but alive!!!!

I am sorry about your job. That really sucks for you. You have been through so much. But I do love your attitude...one door closes, and another one will open. Right? maybe this new door that will open will be a much better future for you and Diane.


xoxoxoxxoxo
Suz

Claudine said...

I am so glad nothing happened to you. God must really be watching over you. This is actually my worst fear, having my car break down in the middle of nowhere.

And I'm sorry about your job. You're in my thoughts and my prayers.

Me said...

Reason number ONE my ex boyfriend taught me how to change a flat tire. It may be messy but dammit, I can do it! I thank many men in my life for the little bits of education I was given about little things like car batteries, flat tires, self defense classes even to help me carry on if I were ever stranded like that!

How SCARY!!! You were definintly watched over by something or someone!

And wtf about the job!?! I don't even know what to say there but you are dead on when one door closes, another will open, sometimes we just can't see it yet. Keep strong woman.

Peace and hugs,
Dana

Anonymous said...

I'm a firm believer in Guardian Angels and you had yours working over time that night. I can't imagine the feelings you and your Mom were going through on that lonely stretch of the road. Isn't something how it all played out, with your Mom going with you and then the cop taking a different way home. What a relief.

The company I work for has the same policy about holding your job open for only so long. But they have to have something open for the return. I never heard of having to find your own job but you can't do anything until you're back. Hopefully you'll be fully recovered a lot sooner than November. Stay positive my friend.

Anonymous said...

That story had me freaked out the whole way through. The fear must have been horrific. I'm really sorry you went through that - I can't help thinking of the many women who weren't that lucky. It makes me sad.

La Roo said...

Whoa....crazy shit C.
This is straight out of a horror film. Oh sweet lady, I'm so sorry this happened to you and your mom. I think it's good that you share this with all of us. It cathartic for you to get it out. You are here for a reason, I'm sure glad your here and I know many others are too.

I'm sorry about your job, something better will come. You deserve it.

ChiTown Girl said...

Oh my holy hell!!! This story is one of the scariest freakin' things I've ever read! That's one hell of a guardian angel you have there! She obviously works overtime.

What the FUCK, for real, about the whole job thing!? WHAT THE FUCK!!!!???? I'm so PISSED for you right now, I can't see straight!! This is the biggest bunch of fuckin' bullshit I've ever fuckin' heard!!! Um, hello, assbags!!! She got hurt while dealing with one of YOUR fuckin' patients!! Seriously, what the fuck planet are you on!!!??? Argh! I'm too pissed to even type anymore! I'll be praying for that window to open quickly! Ugh!

Mike said...

That was one hell of a story. My family is from Mississippi, so I do know about those southern backroads on warm and dark Summer nights!

Glad that your guardian angel was looking out for you!

Technodoll said...

My heart is still pounding in my throat, C - what a horrible, horrible thing to happen to anyone - christ!! My hands are still shaking from your close call!!!

You should write a book about your life... you have an incredible talent for recounting stories and painting pictures with just a few words. You're warm and real, and your life is such a rich tapestry of trials, tribulations, laughter and tear and successes - I would be the first in line to buy a copy.

Would you consider it?

What a way to earn a living! :)

So sorry about your job... that just sucks ass :(

**hugs mon amie**

C said...

thank you my peeps for the support. i so appreciate it.

love you guys..

c

J. Hi said...

Aaawww C, losing your job...that's sucks the big cock. I know another opportunity will come along. You are a good person and good things will come.