59

           "Tryitnow,ma’am,"thetruckdriversaid.HewaslookingintotheenginecavityofRachel’srentedcar.

           Sheturnedthekey.TheChevette’sengineroaredintolife.Thetruckdriverslammedthehooddownandcamearoundtoherwindow,wipinghishandsonabigbluehandkerchief.Hehadapleasant,ruddyface.ADysart’sTruck-Stopcapwastiltedbackonhishead.

           "Thankyouverymuch,"Rachelsaid,onthevergeoftears."Ijustdidn’tknowwhatIwasgoingtodo."

           "Aw,akidcouldhavefixedthat,"thetruckersaid."Butitwasfunny.Neverseensomethinglikethatgowrongonsuchanewcar,anyway."

           "Why?Whatwasit?"

           "Oneofyourbatterycablescomerightoff.Wasn’tnobodyfriggingwithit,wasthere?"

           "No,"Rachelsaid,andshethoughtagainofthatfeelingshe’dhad,thatfeelingofrunningintotherubberbandoftheworld’sbiggestslingshot.

           "Musthavejoggedherloosejustridinalong,Iguess.Butyouwon’thavenomoretroublewithyourcablesanyway.Itightenedemuprealgood."

           "CouldIgiveyousomemoney?"Rachelaskedtimidly.

           Thetruckerroaredwithlaughter."Notme,lady,"hesaid."Usguysaretheknightsoftheroad,remember?"

           Shesmiled."Well...thankyou."

           "More’nwelcome."Hegaveheragoodgrin,incongruouslyfullofsunshineatthishourofthemorning.