Karma.

Leaving the diner at the truck stop. Snow Shoe, PA. My Waterloo. Where I had broken down before so spectacularly. Belly full of burger. Getting back on her. Feeling triumphant. I'm on a steep incline, she's weighted down heavily. Can't get her off the center stand. Push her. Push. Push. Get off and push her from behind. Falls. Try to pick her up. Can't. Again. Again. Man comes out four feet away and I finally right her. Awkward maneuver with all the gear on her. At least an extra hundred. My baby weighs 500lbs dry. Not including the gas and oil. They're standing in the window looking at me. Wipe the gas that spilled out off the tank. All over the ground. She won't start. Just had her started, idling, warming but now she won't start. Roll her back down the hill. The gas station. Heart pounding. Furious. Yelling. Pull her up to a pump. Still full of gas. Try her again, won't start. Yelling.

"I'm not fucking getting stranded in this town again."

Man on the opposite pump asks if Im having a bad day. Ignore him. He walks back over to his BMW. Well dressed. Grey hair. Sunglasses. Looks like he could be my father. Push her off to the side. Back to my familiar work. Pull a plug, check it. Seat. Check voltage on battery. Think. Man comes over.

"I know you're having a bad day so I wanted to give you this." Crisp hundred dollar bill in his hands. Unlit cigar in the other.

"I'm just going to spend it on cigars. You look like you could use it."

"No. I Can't take it."
"Get a hotel room."
"I can't take that."
"No, I insist. I've been stranded myself before." He puts it on the seat. Turns to walk away.

"I can't. If I take this something else terrible will happen."

Run after him and shove it back in his hand. "I've been stranded in this town before… for three days, on my way from New York to Chicago for work and I can't afford to get stranded here again."

He walks away bemused, smirk on his face. Says something but I can't quite make it out. Get back to my work. Not enough fuel in the float bowls? Try turning her over a couple more times to flood the chambers. Cough. Little rumble. Roar.