Let me preface this story by telling you that neither the gas gauge nor the speedometer work on Lil' Buddy. So my habit is to fill him up with gas every single time I drive. Well, guess what I forgot to do. I made the trip over the bridge, ran to pick up lunch for myself and some co-workers and headed back to work. I was at the worst intersection on Hwy. 146 in Seabrook. Sure enough, I stalled out and sputtered to a halt. People went around me - rolling windows down for a photo opt or yelling at me to blow the horn. I called for someone to come get the food from me before it was inedible and called to have someone bring me some gas.
I guess I shouldn't give up on young people, yet. Three young Hispanic males in a truck pulled up to help. Only two spoke English, so one stayed in the truck while the other two directed him in Spanish to slowly merge the truck into other lanes to block them. They told me to sit tight and steer. They said they were going to physically push the car about a block to get me safely to a parking lot. Once there, one took off in the truck while the others stayed to talk and make sure I was safe until someone came to help me get back to work. They told me they lived fairly close and Julio was going to get a little gas for me.
I protested the extra step because I had no cash to repay them. I asked if they would give me an address so I could send a check. They said absolutely not. They did not expect repayment. Gas arrived, and, again, I offered to send money. They said no, but they did have a request......they wanted to take pictures with the car. I told them to have fun.
They sat in it, took pics of the engine and the rumble seat, called a buddy and said, "Jose, listen to this, dude!" as they blew the ooga horn and recorded it, took selfies in front of it and were posting photos to their friends as fast as possible.
My help arrived, I thanked them and they were soon gone. But the impression they left me with will never be gone. I hope that their silver-grey pick up pulls up next to me some day and they wave hello. I'll blow the ooga horn and wave like I have known them forever.
