This is not how you cross the border (Part 2/2)

Then the cars started moving, which meant that I had to turn the Matrix back on. The engine must've started several times when I decided to simply leave it on. Maybe doing so would eat up less gas. We must've been 5 cars until the border guard's booth when we began to hear rattling under the car somewhere.

"You better hope and pray--very hard--that we make it!"

"No, not in your head--OUT LOUD."

Thoughts raced through my mind. What if the car in the next lane let us in front of him? I mean, we'd be better off if the car died with us in the front of the line. People often times are masked by the steel shell of their cars; while in them, they have no empathy--unless I give some eye contact. Oh forget it, no one's going to let me through. But what if our car does die. Would anyone come out of their vehicle to help us push?

Aeons later, we made it to the border security booth.

"So where are you going and why?" (Texan accent)

"Blaine, to pick up some racing seats for my friend"

"Why can't he pick them up himself?"

"He's at work, and I'm doing him a favour."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a student."

"What about the guy next to you?"

"He's a collision repairman, but he got laid off."

"Yea? Well, is there any chance that he can fix that annoying rattling sound?"

"Actually... the car is out of gas. The pilot's been on for over half an hour. Where's the nearest gas station?"

"It's a block away. Just right there."

In synchrony with his signal to let us pass, the car died. I stepped on the pedal, but it would not nudge. The border security guy rolled his eyes, and smiled at us, but from his eyes I saw laughter ("These guys are such idiots!")

"Guess you guys are out of luck."

So, I set the gear to neutral, we got out, and pushed the car, stopping to position the wheels occasionally to the gas station, a 20 min feat. We were entering the land of the free, in style! Nice and slow, treasuring every second (yea right). At the end of it, I felt sweaty and cold--not a pleasant combination, but I felt a sense of accomplishment. It's not everyday that I get to go on such exotic adventures.