Gas Wars

I truly do not try to step into the path of controversy and oncoming traffic, like trains, but somehow that' s where I often find myself standing-about to get hit by a bus.

It all started on All Hallow's Eve....on our way to meet up with some ghosts and goblins and one stray but very cute head butting sheep. Oh, and let's not forget Spongebob. "I'll drive!" I said, because I could sense the lack of enthusiasm for the adventure. 'Do you even know where we're going?"
'Of course! I looked it up on Google Maps! Easy!" I grabbed us a joe to go, and some cheese and crackers(it was, after all, dinner time and I could sense a little crankiness seeping in) and off we headed to trick or treat.
"You'r e gonna get gas, right?"
"No, I'm good, we'll get gas along the way...I just read it's like 2.09 in Newmarket!"
I got "THE LOOK."
"You'll never make it!"
"Of course I will! Once the light goes on I have at least 10 miles..I've never had to go further than that, so...."
And so we went, through the curving winding quickly darkening streets, out to the country. Further than I thought, but no light yet.

What a blast! It was like Trick or Treat Central! Hundreds of cars lining the side of the development, where hundreds of families with babies, strollers, wagons and glow sticks wandered aimlessly from decorated house to decorated house, filling up bags of candy. The Pink Power Ranger had run out of power and was sitting comfortably in the front seat of the double barreled stroller exclaiming to everyone she was done because too much candy wasn't too good for you.

Spongebob was on autopilot. Hesitant at first, he became a master of ringing doorbells and holding out his candy bag. The sheep was revolting, screaming and thrashing wanting to do her sheepie wandering. All 25 lbs of her needing to be hauled, while trying to avoid being head-butted. "All she needs is a lollipop and she'll quiet down. "
"Give her the glow stick!"
"Nope, tried that, she ate it." Her sheepish face was smeared in sticky, gooey, purple fruit snack, her sheep fur stuck to her fingers. The scariest one, all dressed in black with a freakishly scary mask (who knew he used to be scared of masks?) figured out his mom would hold his bag, and all he had to do was walk up to houses with his bare hands...and beg politely for a treat-"He's so lazy!"

But back to the real storey....Trick or Treat ended when the scariest one declared, "I'm done!" And we all headed back to our vehicles. "Are you gonna get gas now?"
"I will..on the way home. What do you want to do for dinner?"
"It doesn't matter to me!"
And so off we went, back to civilization, looking for eats and gas. Well, I kept driving, the light came on and Mr. Cranky Pants was getting irritated. "You're not gonna stop for gas, are you?"
"I can make it. I 'll get gas in the morning, first thing."
"You'll forget."

A quick stop at Margaritas for fajitas, then home. No gas tonight.

PART 2

SO, when I was finally ready to head out the next day, I decided to drive North for gas. The light was definitely still on, but every time I went around a corner, it went out...that's a good sign! I can definitely make it 7 miles.
I must admit, I was getting just slightly uneasy, but iIthought to myself...I am not far from home IF I run out of gas, it is just a short walk to civilization....
As I approached the main drag I had to stop at a red light. I noticed the gas station across the street was somewhat busy. I was straining my neck, trying to read the sign. "Does that say 2.03? It can't possibly say 2.03 Gas is NOT 2.03 a gallon. I was having an honest to goodness out loud conversation with myself by now.

I decided that whatever the price, I would get across the street for gas. There was a slight problem. Cars, trucks and vans were starting to line up..but there was nowhere to get in line. The angle of the pumps prevented more than 2 vehicles from waiting in line. I decided to circle around and enter the first pump from the opposite side, and so as not to block traffic I pulled up behind another pickup. I turned off my vehicle to save the embarrassment of running out of gas at the pump.

I hope this guy is actually in line! It was kinda hard to tell...with the angle we were at. Suddenly, from the opposite direction comes a very large, old folks car..like giant Buick or Lincoln or something..pulling right up behind the two cars at the pump we were waiting at. You need to understand my co-waiter and I left a traffic lane..and we did not anticipate getting cut off from the other side. Oops.

You never know what will send someone over the edge...It was a guy in the truck in front of me, and he was clearly offended by the Buick. He started ranting and raving, and approached my window. "Can you believe these *&&^&&^?"
"No problem," I could really care less. "They are not gonna get away with this!" I could sense a readiness for battle. And so it began. GAS WARS.

And my little friend was going to battle over me, apparently. All I cared about was getting my gas and getting out of there alive. Which I managed, somehow to do...only after I needed to maneuver myself out of the way of a very large gasoline tanker truck who was trying to get past the Buick. The Gasoline Warrior kept up his brave battle til the bitter end, boxing out the Buick, allowing me to pull ahead of the line and fill m tank for like 33.00! By now I had elected the strategy of NO EYE CONTACT-with anyone. As quickly as I could, I filled 'er up and maneuvered my way out of Dodge...

As I circled back by the OK Corral, I had my cell phone out, ready to take a picture of the sign with the price....and as I looked I couldn't believe my eyes. In the time it took for GAS WARS, the price had risen to 2.09 a gallon. The Gas Warrior had succeeded in some kind of moral victory, as he had forced the Buick to wait until the price went up 6 cents a gallon. But still....2.09? Not a bad day's work. And definitely worth going to war over.