Hey, Universe! Can I catch a break?
As I drove T-Hoe into the garage on Wednesday evening, the BATTERY light came on. Bright red. The symbol of a battery. That's not good. It was a new addition to my CHECK ENGINE light, and the FLAT TIRE light. They're on all the time. Along with messages to check the tire monitor system, and the backup sensor, and to change engine oil soon. T-Hoe is on his last legs, and now had another foot in the grave.
Hick came out to carry in groceries, so I told him that light just came on. He asked if my battery was charging. AS IF I WOULD KNOW! He told me which gauge to look at, and said the needle should be straight up at 14. But no. It was on the left, about a quarter up, between the 14 and the 9. I have no idea what this signifies, but Hick told me to turn off T-Hoe, and then start him up again so Hick could look for himself. Because, you know, Val obviously doesn't know when a needle points halfway between 9 and 14.
It did the same thing upon restarting. Hick said my battery wasn't charging. That it was probably the alternator. Of course I'm not taking a chance on driving to town if my battery is going to go dead! I knew I was doomed.
Here's the thing. If Hick didn't get it fixed on Thursday, I would be trapped at home until at least Tuesday! That's five days!!! I knew Hick would make no efforts on Friday/Saturday/Sunday, because he can't miss a second of business at his SUS2.5 (Storage Unit Store 2.5), even for his loving wifey. And Monday, he has a medical appointment down in Casino Town.
Hick complained that he really wanted to finish up working on one of the senior apartments Thursday morning, and mow The Pony's yard, and that he had an "appointment" to meet some guy down at his SUS2.5 at 5:30, so he didn't know how he could get T-Hoe fixed at the last minute, because Mick the Mechanic might not be able to work him in. You know, because there are absolutely no other businesses around here that work on cars. Notice that there's not even a pretense of working on Bargain House. I don't think Hick has been over there in a month.
So let's get this straight. The joy Val gets from her one outing for an hour every day to buy scratchers, and her weekly trip to the bank and gas station and Country Mart on Thursdays, is at the very bottom of Hick's to-do list. Perhaps just a scrap of paper duct-taped to the Dead-Sea-Scroll-ish compilation of what Hick has on his agenda.
This is exactly why I was against Hick taking that less-than-$300-a-month job at the senior apartments. Because there's nothing in it for VAL! Hick can't even maintain her current standard of living!
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