A low tire can bring many thoughts, curse words and disasters but today it resurrected a memory.
About twenty years ago, I was training in Little Rock. It required a week, thus extended motel stay so this outside person was a little antsy. You can only read so much and watch so much tv before the outside calls you. I had been cautioned not to leave the motel after dark.
Looking out the window, I noticed a gentleman walking up and down behind the vehicles. Called security, no result. I continued to watch him, you can tell when someone is up to no good. He pulled his truck in and the back was full of spare tires.
Being a trusting person, I walked out and talked to the guy...he pretended to check his oil. Early in our marriage, we could get tires with rims cheaper than we could buy a new tire so I thought this must be the case. I told him to have a good evening...and I secretly watched.
The guys was stealing every one's truck spare tires!!!!! He had walked down the line, let all the tires to the ground and then came with his vehicle and threw the stolen tires in.
I called security again...same result, no show.
I walked down to my truck, still in my tie-dyed pjs, removed my tire iron from the truck and watched. He saw me and started to drive off.
I chased him! Yes, barefooted, in pjs and with a tire iron in my hand. His license plate is mud-covered. I have the type and make of his truck. I know how the hotel lot is laid out so I know there is only one way out. I turn to cut him off at the pass.
As he rounds the corner, I reach the same spot. He is looking straight ahead. I slap the window of the driver's side and the look on his face was priceless!!! He sped off with a slightly surprised, maybe a little scared look on his face.
I go into the office of the motel, the security guard is drinking coffee...and while they look surprised at the site of me, they did call the police...maybe they were scared of me.
The police arrived, argued with my description of the thief...they tried to make him black, he was not. I talked to the man, I chased him, I knew the brand of his jeans!
To shorten my story, my spare tire was stolen along with all the trucks there. The police did nothing except say, Don't worry, lady, he won't be back tonight. He knows there's a crazy lady staying here.
What memories do a flat tire evoke for you????
