Friday, June 20, 2025

Seven Minutes to Noon

Seven Minutes to Noon

By Digger Barr 

Posted by Sitara on June 20, 2025


 

You couldn’t see their wings. But I know they were there.
How else would Angels arrive in such a timely manner if they didn’t have wings.
Maybe in this case it was because they had wheels.
Let me back this thought up a bit and let you in on my story.

After pulling off the interstate I was several miles away from home on the opposite side of town when my low tire indicator came on.
If you have a computer dashboard car you know the one. Bright orange light with a flat tire and an exclamation point in it.
Well, since I had travel so far without the indicator light on I knew that something had happened and I needed to make my next move carefully.
So I kept driving while looking for a potential gas station.
At the very least an air compressor would be desirable but I didn’t see that showing up as I maneuver into a parking area.
It was more of a tiny convivence store, ma and pa style with only two pumps rather than an actual station.
I strategically parked in an open space that would allow for a tire jack if necessary..
I got out of the car and looked at my rear tire. It was very flat by this point.
I have never shredded a tire before but, if I had not stopped that may have been next.

With all the hope in the world I went inside to ask if they had any air.
The answer I had already gotten a feel for, NO.
But wait, they had fix a flat in a can.
Only 15 dollars plus tax.

I took off the valve cap and twisted on the tube of miracle foam and pressed the button.
For a second hope lifted as the tire started to rise.
Suddenly foam came shooting out a definite breech with a hissing sputtering sound as pink foam began covering the black asphalt.
A razor blade could be seen embedded in the rubber.

Shifting on the hot pavement I took out my phone and succumbed to calling for roadside assistance.
My insurance will cover this. No worries.
It’s not like I couldn’t get out my spare and attempt the lug nuts myself.
I stared at the lug nuts for a minute to see if that ideeeea got any more appealing.
It did not.

Hello, Big Jim’s towing?
Oh, you’re not roadside assistance? How much? $260?
Okay I will try Insurance again Thank You.
As I was saying goodbye to Big Jim I heard something to my left.
Two young gentlemen were walking directly to me, trying to get my attention.
Behind them on the street was parked a big truck pulling a trailer that indicated. Tire repair.

I blinked. Then blinked again as I basically hung-up on Big Jim.
“Hello,” said one young man. “We were driving by and saw you might need help.”
I was trying not to be stunned. I was stunned.
Finally I managed to clamor , “you are here to help ME?”
They both smiled brightly and said yes. “We can fix your tire.”

I am not usually speechless but this was one time I was lost for words.
Do you have the lug key? he asked.
The men were ready to take care of the situation and just needed me to register what was happening.
Yeah, a lug key.
It was discovered in the glove box. By the time I shut the car door, my tire had disappeared into the pull -behind trailer.

I walked around to the front of the store to throw away the fix-a-flat can then returned to my car.
My tire had reappeared and was being placed back on my car..
‘You are good to go’, Owen said.
For some reason I looked at my phone. It had been maybe 7 minutes.
I said wait, May I take your picture?
Owen grinned looking over his shoulder then went back to tighten the lug nuts.
Chantzen had dropped the car and pulled away the jack.


I searched for words again. Is it fixed fixed? No leak? miles, hours
Good to go?
I didn’t doubt them, I was still swimming in some sort of astounded disbelief.
They grinned again. Yes. Good to go.
I didn’t want to be rude but what does one do next?

“How much do I owe you?” I asked predictably.
They handed me business cards as a reply.
Nothing, They had previously agreed.
“Could I at least give you a tip”. It sounded so frivolous compared to the gratitude I felt.
They were climbing into the hero’s mobile. Have a nice day they said and that was that.
Then they were gone.

I had told them they were Angels and I would write them a story.
I like writing stories about Angels.
Even ones that use wheels.
But truly they must have had wings too.
They were hidden somewhere behind those shiny bright grins.

Even as I write this I feel a bit of disbelief.
This really happened. It’s a true story.
It was yesterday at seven minutes to Noon.
I am humbled beyond my own level of previous faith.
There are good people in the world.
But the likelyhood of the timing and placement…?

If there was ever a doubt may it sputter away as useless foam.

Chantzen is an unusual name. Intriguing.
And Owen? Is that spelled with an ‘i’ for the ‘win’.
Whomever you are, you are my Angels
I am grateful beyond these words of gratitude.
Thank you.

Digger25

Digger Barr
 

 

Compiled by http://violetflame.biz.ly from: 

No comments:

Post a Comment