Hot day breakdown.
_ Hot day breakdown. _
(A story for a friend)
By Puma and Darkstar Concolor
Author's note: The characters, Ray and Tina, belong to Gray Muzzle, a renowned writer, artist, and photographer in his own rights. Many thanks for allowing me to use them in this little story.
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Grumbling a bit about the traffic as I drove up Interstate 295 North. I am pulling a 40 foot, refrigerated trailer bound for New Brunswick. Glancing to my right, I noticed the right lane had suddenly emptied, affording me the opportunity to shift lanes. For some reason, I felt a sudden need to watch the emergency lane. Perhaps it was intuition or maybe inspiration from my sometimes companion Coyote, the desert goddess who has for the last 180 years or so has keep me as young as the day she found me so many years ago. But, that is old history.
As I was coming up on exit 33 to Trenton, I noticed a small red sports car off on the side of the road with the hood up. I reached over and tripped my hazard lights and applying my jake breaks, pulled up to a stop behind the Mazda Miata. The driver turned and looked back at what must have seemed like a huge, monstrous truck threatening to swallow her little car as I popped the parking breaks. She was a very cute little Poodle-human hybrid. I had to do a double take just to make sure she was not someone from my recent past. Her companion, a human male was now looking back from over the hood of the little car.
It was an unusually hot day in New Jersey and I knew the occupants had to be sweltering. I reached into the little cooler box I keep between the seats and grabbed two bottled waters. As I exited the cab, the male started to walk to the end of the car, stopping first to talk to his companion. I saw her reach down but reemerge with a cell phone in hand. Not a bad precaution this day and age. It is too bad mankind needs to distrust each other so much, I miss the old days. I stopped a couple of paces short and presented the ice cold water as a token of good faith.
"Car Troubles?" I called out over the traffic noise, "Here is some ice water; on this hot a day it might be a good idea."
"Aaa Yea. It just quit," the human reached out to accept the water. The poodle was eyeing the bottles hungrily as the male handed her one after inspecting the seal. Another good precaution. "Thanks," he added.
"Not a problem. Name's Puma. Puma Concolor," I said offering my paw in friendship.
"Ray and this is my wife, Tina," he said, taking my paw and shaking it tentatively.
The poodle had now turned completely around and was kneeling in the driver's seat. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Concolor. Thanks for the water; it' a life saver." She offered her paw to shake but when I handed her mine she took it and turned it gently to look at my paws. They were a bit different from the normal hybrid paws. My fingers were shorter and thicker than that of a human but longer and much more dexterous than my more feral cousins. I also retained my long retractable claws unlike those of a hybrid who tended to have longer more slender fingers with the flatter nails of a human hand.
"What are you? I mean if you don't mind me asking," she said, looking at my facial features.
"Tina! Behave!" Ray said looking a bit shocked at his wife's boldness.
"It's ok, "I chuckled. "I'm a Mountain Lion, Ma'am. Not too many of us up here in the North East. And please, call me Puma, all my friends do."
"So, Ray, what's up with the Mazda?"
"I don't know. It was running great and it just shut down, like I turned off the ignition. Now it won't start at all," he explained, looking back at me. He was obviously glad that I had diverted the subject from my lineage back to the dilemma at hand.
To be truthful, I didn't mind her examining my paws as her soft touch felt wonderful. She was wearing a pink halter top and matching shorts and had she not have been married I would have considered asking her out for dinner up the road a bit. This Ray was a very lucky man indeed. Oh well, I softly sighed.
"May I take a look? I'm not too bad with a wrench," I asked "It's going to take forever to get a tow truck out here in this traffic."
"Sure, I guess," he answered as he turned and walked back to the engine compartment.
I followed him and bent over looking closely at the little engine. Seeing no obvious problems such as pooling fuel or burnt wires, I turned to Ray and asked him to have Tina turn the motor over so I could take a quick look for problems.
She turned it over for a couple of seconds. It made no effort in starting. I could smell fresh gas indicating it was not the fuel system. I pulled a wire off one of the spark plugs and had her try it again as I listened for the tell tale tic-tic sound of spark. There was none to be heard.
"Seems to be an ignition problem," I mused aloud.
"What does that mean?" Ray asked from over my shoulder.
"No spark. May be an ignition coil or the possibility a sensor.... These things don't use points any more." I answered still looking at the coil.
It was then I noticed the issue; the cable bundle had come loose and had pulled a plug loose under the ignition coil. The retainer had broken off so there was nothing holding the plug in place other than friction. I then looked up at Ray with a big grin, "Well, I found your problem, but I need to run back to my truck to get the fix for it."
"Ok? So what is it?" he asked.
"Under the ignition coil is two wire connecters the one on the left is loose. All I need a bit of tape and you'll be back up and running," I explained pointing to the coil.
As I was walking back around the passenger side on my way to my truck, I noticed Tina had just finished her water and was still looking at it hungrily, "Would you like another? I'm on my way back to the truck and I can get you one?"
"Oh, yes, please!" she said, handing me back the empty. "That would be wonderful; that is, as long as you have plenty."
"I have plenty," I answered with a large grin. "I'll be right back."
As I returned with a roll of electrical tape and two more bottles I grinned, "Here you go, M'Lady, enjoy." I handed her another frosty bottle and she grinned sweetly back at me and blushed.
About two minutes later the tape job done and the cable loom supported, I motioned Ray to have Tina try again. This time the little engine roared to life and idled down to a smooth purr.
"It's temporary at best, but it will last for a while. You should have your mechanic replace the connecter and tie that wire bundle back up where it belongs when you get a chance. Other than that, you're good to go," I said as I closed the hood.
"Great! So what do I owe you?" asked Ray, taking out his wallet.
"Not a thing," I said waving off his offer.
"You sure? At least let me pay you for the water," he said, looking at me rather blankly.
"I'm sure. You owe me nothing. It was my pleasure to help you and your lovely wife out on a hot day."
"But..." Tina started to protest.
I walked past her as she stood just outside the driver's door and I placed a finger to her lips hushing her.
"No arguing, M'Lady. The only reward I need is the knowledge that I helped out a gentleman and his lady fair."
I looked over at the male and offered my paw once again, "Ray, it was good to meet you and your wife. You take care."
"I will Puma, and if there is anything I can ever do for you just let me know," he said as he shook my paw and handed me a business card.
"Puma, could you stop by for dinner?" asked Tina.
"Well, that may be a bit hard to do as that truck and city streets don't mix very well. But I will give Ray a call when I'm back in the area. I'm sure there is a truck stop or a restaurant with a big parking lot around here some place. You two can meet me there," I said with a grin.
"Well, until then at least take this with you," Tina said as she gave me a light peck on the cheek. I was stunned and left speechless. I could only wave as they drove away.
I still had a silly school boy grin as I climbed back in my truck. I had only been sitting for a few moments when I realized I was not alone.
"You starting to have a thing for poodles?" a very feminine voice asked from my sleeper.
"I have always had a weak spot for cute ladies, but none can match my beautiful Coyote," I said with a big grin.
"Oooooooo good save, Romeo. Tell you what, let's get this mobile ice box rolling and find a truck stop. You owe me dinner and a back rub," Coyote said with an answering grin just before she leaned over to nibble my ear.
"That, I will gladly do, My Lady Love," I said as I shoved the transmission into gear noticing the traffic had magically opened up, again....