“Is everything loaded?” asks Jane bringing out a pillow and blanket from the apartment because ‘Maud’ doesn’t have very good insulation and she knows that Liz likes to drive with the air conditioner at full blast.
“Yes, I think we have everything. Wait a minute . . . I want to grab one more book” responds Liz remembering some library books she left on her dresser.
“Do you really need one more book? I think you have seven in the car already. When are you going to have time to read anyway? Do you plan on talking to anyone?” jokingly but somewhat seriously asks Jane.
“It’s just one more. You know how I am, I might be in the mood for a mystery or a novel rather than a classic” justifies Liz knowing that eight books might be just one too many for a weekend trip.
“As long as I don’t have to help you carry them around, I don’t care. Bring as many as you want, just leave enough space for me” replies Jane throwing her small bag of music into the back of the tiny car.
“At least ‘Maud’ gets good gas mileage. It will save us a little on the trip even if not so much in regards to luxury but once you settle in, she’s quite comfortable replies Liz taking one last stretch before cramming into the driver’s seat.
“You go ahead and believe that” states Jane shaking her head in dismay. Liz looks at her and smirks.
“I created a mix that we can sing too” offers Jane whose motive is not entirely pure. She does not want to listen to some obscure author Liz has found at the library on audio tape for the next six hours. Jane has been on one too many trips before with her sister and has come prepared with a backup plan.
Just before leaving, Liz hands her sister a bottle of coke to place in the cup holders on the window of the door that she had to buy extra at Shop-Mart because they were not provided as an accessory when she bought the car.
“Remember to be careful not to roll down your window too fast, the plastic cup holders are not too stable” advises Liz as her soda bottle teeters on the driver’s side window sill as she starts the car.
“Is everything okay?” asks Jane as the car stubbornly refuses to start for a moment “We can always take my car.”
“’Maud’ just needs a moment to warm up and then she’ll be ready to go” insists Liz with a silent prayer hoping that Jane doesn’t notice. The car eventually turns over. “See, she’s fine!”
“Did you bring the GPS? If not, we can use my phone” replies Jane searching in the dark cavern of her purse cluttered with band-aids, hand cream, post-it notes, nail file, pens, lipstick, epaulets, valve oil, last week’s Sunday bulletin, nail polish, and an extra pair of off-black nylons that are now emptied on the small tan dashboard.
“I left it in the glove compartment, so we’re okay” replies Liz shocked that Jane could contain so many things in such a small space.
“Oh, I do have this!” excitedly states Jane pulling out a flat round shape printed with a glass jar “It’s a Country Garden Rose air freshener from Northern Candle. ‘Maud’ is getting a little musty” replies Jane “This will make her smell better.”
“Ooo, it does smell really good!” agrees Liz letting the air freshener freely dangle from the rearview mirror “I may have to get some more of those”.
As the car vibrates and bounces down the road, Jane searches for the CD which she has also buried in her purse.
“I’m so glad you finally decided to install a CD player in your car! I guess we’ll just have to wait another decade for an attachment for an IPOD to listen to it through the sound system” sarcastically replies Jane laughing at her sister’s frugalness.
Feeling slightly annoyed but knowing that it is a true possibly, Liz snickers in response, “Whatever.”
The music begins with Basia’s “Crusin’ for Brusin’” which is an old favorite which both know every lyric to the song. Followed by “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga which Jane provides some excellent impressions. “Baby” by Justin Beiber is dramatically sung by Liz who whips her bangs back and forth as Jane giggles beside her and then Jane has her own turn with “Whip My Hair” as a duet with Willow Smith.
As the hours pass, Liz and Jane repetitively sing ‘Nsync’s “Bye, Bye, Bye” and give friendly waves at neighboring cars quickly passing them by on the highway. The car still roars and recoils with each bump in the road gently tossing Liz and Jane into the air blissfully oblivious after several hours of traveling.
As time passes, Liz realizes that the gas gage is challenging the zero mark. It is storming and pellets of rain bang against the metal lining of the car. The view is blurred and it is difficult to see through the fog and torrential cloud burst. The windshield wipers scrape the best they can but cannot compete against the torrent of water crashing down upon the little car.
“I need gas and there doesn’t seem to be any fuel around here!” frustrated replies Liz trying to see through the steamed windows.
“It looks like there might be a gas station up the road at the next exit” anxiously replies Jane knowing that Liz habitually does not like to stop for gas until the absolutely last minute.
Taking the next exit Liz can barely make out the road before them as the clouds and rain pour all around them.
“Liz, what are you doing? I don’t think that is a driveway!” screams Jane.
“Yes, it is!” returns Liz “I know what I’m doing!”
“No, you don’t! That is not a driveway. The entrance is about 100 feet up!” returns Jane worried as she feels the wheels turn toward the muddy opening of the grass beside the road.
“Maud” gently glides down the hill towards the gas station in front of them. They can feel the car slowly sink its rubber roots into the mud. As Liz looks to her left she sees the concrete slab of what other people might call a “drive way” but which her car has totally missed.
‘Maud’ finally comes to rest in her murky cradle near the outdoor ice machine of the gas station with a large faded paper sign in the front window that reads “closed”.
Jane looks at Liz who is trying to avoid eye contact as the rain pounds on the roof of the tiny vehicle. “Well, what do we do now? We’re only an hour from camp.”
“I think we can get out of here. I just need a little help” considers Liz “We can change our clothes on the way before reaching the cottage.”
“Okay, at least I am wearing my boots” replies Jane knowing that Liz is going to need help to move the car and not seeing any other rational alternative.
In the downpour, Liz and Jane firmly stand behind the car as their boots submerge into the muck and mire.
“On the count of three, we push” instructs Liz “One, two, three!”
They push with all their effort . . . and nothing happens. “Maybe we could turn around and push with our backsides” offers Jane trying to give Liz some hope.
“That sounds like a good idea!” states Liz grateful for Jane’s suggestion.
They turn around and face the opposite direction of the car. “One, two, three!” yells Liz but again the car does not budge as Liz slips off the bumper onto the muddy ground.
“Maybe we just need to ‘gun’ it out of the mud” suggests Jane standing with her hands on her hips not sure there is anything else they can do.
Liz wipes the mud off as best as she can with napkins from Buck’s Burger and enters the driver seat. But before Jane can safely move out of the way, Liz hits the gas very hard. Mud splurges everywhere, soaking Jane head to foot.
Aware that something has gone amiss, Liz looks into the rearview mirror to see a angry shadowy figure covered in a dark substance standing behind the car. For a moment, Liz feels as if she has reached her ‘last’ day.
Jane shakes in the rain and tries to get the mud off of her. “It’s time to call someone.”
Realizing that arguing would be futile, Liz makes a call and finds a company to tow the car of out the mud.
After waiting a half hour for the tow truck, the service man finally arrives. Jane remains in the rain hoping to wash off some of the mud before seeing Bingley again. Liz stays in the car not wanting to further tempt Jane’s fury.
“Oh, I see you girls are having a bit of trouble today. Not a great day to be outdoors, it looks like you have been enjoying yourselves though” jests Mr. Conway looking at Jane’s mud caked hair and face. Jane politely smiles.
He is able through the use of ropes to pull the car out of the mud. However, when Liz attempts to start the motor, nothing happens. She tries several more times, but ‘Maud’ stubbornly remains silent.
“Ma’am, I can probably have someone work on your car for you, but I don’t have anyone in the shop until Tuesday. My mechanic took a long weekend with his family. Do you have anywhere you can stay until then?” asks Mr. Conway wiping off the grease from his hands with a stained red cloth.
Jane jumps in “Yes, we have very good friends who have invited us for a week at Camp Hidden Lake.”
“Oh, I use to go there as a kid! They had community service camps and some of the kids who belonged to the Boys & Girls club in our small town use to go there. I think it was called a “service unit” then for The Salvation Army. It was the first time I had ever been to a camp and one of the best experiences of my life. I made friends that I have kept for years” recalls Mr. Conway lost in summer memories of fun and friendship.
“I know where it is and I wouldn’t mind dropping you off just to see the place again. I could throw your stuff in the back. I could put your suitcases in the tool chest so they won’t get wet if you would like” offers Mr. Conway “But I need to leave now because the Mrs. Conway is expecting me for dinner. Her book club friends are coming over tonight and she wants me home to run some errands for her. I hope you don’t mind dogs. Bandit rides in the cab with me to keep me company.”
“Sounds great!” remarks Jane relieved that she won’t be missing her weekend opportunity with Bingley “thank you so much!”
Liz smiles politely disappointed that ‘Maud’ is having a bad day. It appears that things are not working out as planned and that the emergency escape route has just disappeared.
Standing in the rain with no other alternatives, Liz looks around taking in her surroundings of a closed gas station, pouring rain, and little else in sight except a thirty year old truck towing her precious car. “Thank you very much. I’m not sure what we would have done without your help” Liz replies sincerely grateful.
Opening the door, Jane finds an old newspaper on the floor. She covers the seats with the newspaper. A mud covered Jane and a soaked Liz, find places in the seat of the cab next to Mr. Conway and his dog. Bandit with a rather large wet nose, friendly smile, and a sloppy tongue hanging to the side, cuddles up to Jane and rests his head on her knee as the old truck hobbles to camp to the rhythm of the rain.
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