It was a summer Saturday morning, our family had just returned from a vacation the night before, and there was not much in the house to eat, so my mom made the decision to drive to Luke's Bakery and pick up some doughnuts for breakfast; 12 year old me decided to tag along.
"Is there enough gas in the car?" my mom asked, and my dad replied, "There's enough to get you there," and she and I climbed into our '72 avocado green Chevy Impala and headed the three miles down Blue Ridge Blvd. to the bakery, and my mom allowed me to get a custard-filled, chocolate covered long john (my favorite).
We took our doughnuts to the car and headed home, but as we turned into our subdivision, the car sputtered and died. My mom steered the car towards the curb as it coasted to a stop, the gas tank dry.
At that point, I knew my mom was madder than mad as she grabbed her purse and the doughnut box and started the three block walk to our house; the morning was hot and she was hotter, and I bounced along beside her, clutching the white bakery bag holding my custard-filled chocolate long john.
I remember my dad looking up as my mom threw the front door open and stomped into the house, saying through gritted teeth, "You said there was enough gas!" to which my dad grinned and replied, "I said there was enough to get you there, I never said there was enough to get you home."
Linking up with Denise at Girlie On The Edge's Blog for Six Sentence Stories with the prompt "coast"
"Madder than mad". Yup. That'd be me but more at "I said there was enough to get you there, I never said there was enough to get you home." :D
ReplyDeleteWere there doughnut guts on the wall after that exchange? LOL
She was REALLY mad! But I think she let him eat the doughnuts!
Deletenow, don't ask me why, (and especially don't ask anyone else), but from the first line a song elbowed it's way into my mind, ready to settle in for the day,
ReplyDelete" Is there gas in the car? Yes, theres gas in the car."*
fun Six, yo
* one of my favorites by this group
Had to Google that one, and I love Steely Dan!
Deletevery fun six. madder than mad...been there done that...and seen those who were also. good six.
ReplyDeleteThank so much! It's funny what memories a word prompt can rustle up!
DeleteWooooweeeeee! She was sputtering like a spent engine! Great six!
ReplyDeleteOhh, she sure was! Thanks!
DeleteLooks like your dad didn't get any donuts that day ;)
ReplyDeleteYou'd think, wouldn't you?!
Deletelol, I'd be mad too. We had a 1970 something Chevy Impala too when I was growing up.
ReplyDeleteWe called it the Green Latrine!
DeleteSo many things were avocado green back then. LOL
ReplyDeleteA very engaging SSS! I had no idea that what we always referred to in these parts as maple bars, were long johns. Custard-filled donuts and pastries are my favorites.
Your story was so easy to envision and to feel the foot stomping temper building on that three block walk home.
It was quite the color! Our living room had avocado green and harvest gold furniture and the kitchen was burnt orange. Oh, those 70s!
DeletePeople usually say maple bars but chocolate long johns. Isn't that weird?
Thank you so much! I remember how mad she was on that walk and had the sense to keep my mouth shut!
This is why i check the gas myself. Excellent story from memory lane.
ReplyDeleteThe needle on the fuel gauge used to go way below the "E", and you could usually go quite a lot of miles once the needle hit the "E" until it was really empty, but it was a crap shoot, obviously! And thank you!
DeleteAt least the car was safe than but not sure it would be now
ReplyDelete