Car Wash Drama

I posted a couple of days ago about my only-Bekah talents, one of which was getting stuck in a car wash.

Twice.

I had a request to elaborate on that story...so I bring you...the elaboration.

The first time, I very clearly remember, happened on a New Year's Day. I don't remember which one. I'd gone shopping in Kokomo with my mom, who mentioned that my car really could use a wash.

So we went to this little car wash behind a gas station. A car was inside when I pulled up, so I maneuvered my tires into the tracks (which is honestly my least favorite part of any car wash experience) and rolled up to the little token/payment machine.

I put in my dollar.

It spit it out.

(Reread the last two sentences about six times.)

I found another dollar...same thing...a few more times.

By this time a truck had pulled in (and by that I mean he was also secured in the tracks) behind me, and I was stuck.

Literally stuck. I couldn't even open my door because of the token machine. Happy New Year!

Mom crawled out her side (Mr. Truck was, I'm sure, at this point regretting his decision to start off the new year with a clean vehicle) and traipsed into the gas station to find out what might be wrong.

Turns out the cash portion of the machine was broken. Apparently they thought they'd posted a sign but maybe it blew away. Maybe? Mom paid for a token, brought it back to the car, crawled back inside...and off we went into the land of clean cars.

Lesson learned on that one. Don't go to a car wash with a long track.

So the next time (which was a good 2 or so years later) I went to a car wash, I again took someone with me...I think it was Dad that time...and went to a little car wash over here by my house.

I pulled up to the automatic wash door, prayed over my dollar bills, and put them in the machine. It gobbled them right up and the light ahead turned green.

That's when I saw them.

Tracks.

My nemesis.

I felt my car jolt into them and the spray began (which is actually my favorite part of a car wash). I rolled slowly through the wash, enjoying every moment, and when I reached the end, the light turned green for me to exit.

I stepped on the gas. The engine revved and I went nowhere.

I checked my gear. Yep, it was in drive!

I pressed the gas again, a little harder this time. Nothing.

It's not possible that this is happening to me again!! I thought.

Just a few short feet in front of me was a wooden privacy fence, and I knew on the other side was someone's back yard.

Super. I'll press on the gas and go flying through the fence and into someone's evening barbecue.

I prayed hard, floored the gas and my car squealed out of the track with a huge jerk. I slammed on the brakes and managed to miss the fence.

And in case you're wondering, Jesus washes my car now. I'm done with automatic washes.