I knew that driving alone in the middle of the night along unfamiliar back roads was possibly a bad idea. What can I say? I was twenty-something, which made me completely oblivious to my own mortality. I was also hopelessly smitten with a certain Moroccan acrobat who was in the circus I had just been visiting. But that is a whole different and colorful 3 ring story for another day!
I was working as a sales and marketing rep for the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros Circus. I had secured this travelling position by cleverly making the management team believe that I was qualified and clearly the only logical choice for the job. Suckers! What made me the right person for the job was that I was determined to spend more time with aforementioned Moroccan acrobat! Never underestimate the power of a twenty-something year old girl with a “he takes my breath away and makes my heart beat a bazillion times a minute crush”!
It’s around 2:30 a.m. (further proof of the theory that nothing good happens after 2:00 a.m.) and I am returning from a clandestine rendezvous. Sales staff and performers are discouraged from fraternizing, so I have conducted a stealth mission trip to see my crush. The town the show is in is about 2 hours from the town I am currently working in. I am on my way back to my hotel. I did not really pay attention to the roads I travelled to get to my crush (you know, due to the butterflies in my stomach and stars in my eyes). I am not at all sure of where I am or how far I am from my hotel. I am also sleepy. Really, really, really sleepy. I’m sure you can see where this is headed.
I may have closed my eyes for just the teensiest, tiniest second and….B BAM…B BAM!! I drifted into the curb resulting in 2 blown tires. “Super great!” I thought, “Two flat tires at 2:30 a.m. in the middle of no-clue-where-I-amville!!” I REPEAT NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS AFTER 2:00 A.M.
This was before cell phones. Well it was before cell phones that were smaller than an NBA player’s shoe and before practically everyone on the planet had one. Ironically enough, the current crop of tablet sized phones are almost shoe sized again! Just an observation. I survey my surroundings and find an office complex which is, of course, empty because IT’S AFTER 2:00 A.M.!!
I also notice an abandoned strip mall which I think may be within walking distance. Yes, I hear you frantically shouting “Don’t do it!” But my options are few. I gather my purse and head to the abandoned, dimly lit mall where I think I faintly see a payphone. Remember those? Yes, payphones were a common sight then and NO, I am not two days older than dirt.
I walk no more than a few hundred feet when a very old, very long, very poorly painted, very sputtery Ford sedan pulls in front of me and stops. A disheveled, looks like he hasn’t showered and may live in his car, man rolls down the window and beckons me to come nearer. Again, I HEAR you….but my options are few and I’m twenty-something and, therefore, invincible. I think to myself, “This is it….this is where my short nowhere near finished life ends.” I fear that I am destined to be found chopped into little bitty pieces and stuffed in a garbage bag buried in a corn field. However, this is Florida so it will more likely be an orange grove. I hope I’ve left something in the car that will help the authorities identify me so that my parents won’t live with the excruciating pain of having me just disappear.
He leans out the window and says “You’re not from around here, are you?” I tentatively respond that I am not. He proceeds to tell me that he thought that might be the case because someone familiar with the area would not be walking around alone at 2:30 a.m. I think you’ll agree with me that the, “this girl must be an idiot” was implied. I force a smile and hope that maybe if he sees how nice I am he will rethink any sinister plans he has for me. Oh, the blissful, completely obliviousness of youth.
He asks me where I am headed and I realize, with great embarrassment, that I’m not really clear on that since I have no idea where I am at the moment. Note to self; next time you go traipsing around in the middle of the night, leave a trail of bread crumbs or something so you can find your way home!! I do remember the name of my hotel and the town it’s in (yay for me!) and he assures me that it’s not very far and he will just call a cab for me. I am infinitely relieved that he does not offer to drive me there in the beat up sedan! Then, to my complete astonishment, he pulls out……(relax, not a gun)….an NBA SHOE SIZED PHONE! Seriously, what are the chances? I breathe a huge sigh of relief because I now feel somewhat optimistic that today is not the day I die…..unless of course he’s calling his friends to come help with the body… It’s only a matter of minutes before a yellow cab pulls up next to us. Mr. Not a Serial Killer speaks to the cab driver who then asks me the name of the hotel where I would like to be deposited (alive and not in pieces I am now somewhat confidently hopeful). I tell him and turn to gather some things for him to put in the trunk. I then turn to thank Mr. Not a Serial Killer for all his help and intend to get his name or number or something. I am sure my parents would like to send him a nice fruit basket or a gift card of some sort to thank him for not hacking their irresposible daughter into little bitty pieces!
Imagine my confusion and shock to discover that HE IS GONE! There is absolutely no sign of him or his poorly painted, sputtery sedan. I search the road in both directions as far as I can see, but there is no trace of him. There are actually no cars or even any tail lights in the distance. It is as if he just vanished. I crawl into the cab and sit baffled for the 45 minute ride to my hotel. I am deposited safely, alive and all in one piece.
One of the major sponsors of the circus in my town is a tire shop. Coincidence? I think not! They somehow find my abandoned car, tow it back to their shop and install 2 brand new tires…for free! I’m not sure I deserve this blessing considering my behavior, but I’ll take it.
I won’t lie to you and say that was the last stupid decision I made in my twenties, but I did try to be a little more alert to my surroundings. I tried to not be out after 2:00 a.m. because….well, you know! I think of that night often and I am convinced of at least one thing for sure;
MY guardian angel drove a beat up Ford sedan!
Chrissy says
I absolutely LOVE this story!!! I felt like I was right there with you. Isn’t is amazing the way that our Father shows up…..even when we are doing our best to stay away from Him??
Love you girl!!!
Carol Dungan says
You brought me back to some of my less than brilliant stories. God has bailed me out more than I care to admit and I am forever indebted. I heard about you through DeeDee.I am enjoying your writing style. You speak to the heart of matters with humor and suspense. It leaves me wanting to read more!
Alicia says
Thank you so much Carol. I am so honored that you took time to read my words. I’ve never forgotten how God took care of me that night when I was too young and oblivious to use what little common sense I had! I hope you’ll visit often. I have lots of stories to tell……