Frankie's Brakes Continued

Sears couldn't fix my break line. I didn't start crying until I was talking to my dad, and there was silence on the phone because we didn't know what to do. The Four were stranded in eastern SC. We were supposed to be in western SC with our friends. Where was Frankie supposed to go? He certainly wasn't driveable, and it was Saturday afternoon--all the auto shops were closed. Crying wasn't going to help find a solution, so I stopped as we started brainstorming.

We had to find a dealership. Frankie's brake lines were rusted, and Sears said only dealerships would work on it. Another hitch is that Oldsmobile doesn't make cars anymore which means we had to find a GM dealership. Thankfully Barnes and Noble has wi-fi and comfy chairs positioned between romance and mystery. So the four of us sat around looking for a dealership.

However, Dad, in NC, found a dealership where Frankie could sit over the weekend and then get fixed. And our friends in western SC were willing to drive and pick us up.

We sat in Barnes and Noble reading, on the phone, and talking. We ate dinner and did some shopping. Then it was time to begin the perilous journey to the dealership. At this point, Frankie's brake line would leak all the break fluid in about 10 minutes. Frankie would start beeping when the break fluid was low. For the first time I can remember, the GPS took us the wrong way. We put more break fluid in because Frankie was beeping at us and made it to the dealership.

The receptionist allowed us to park on the carport instead of the lot, so Frankie would be looked at and possibly fixed sooner. And our friends picked us up. They were amazing--driving three hours to get us and then three hours back.

Monday morning, my parents drove from NC to SC to pick up the car after it was fixed. They didn't replace my break lines (though they will need to be replaced soon); they plugged the hole. Frankie was ready for the road by 11:30 AM.

From this trip, I now know that Frankie needs new tires and new break lines. I'm super thankful that in both situations, the flat tire and leaking break line, the Lord kept us safe. I'm thankful for parents who are willing to jump in and drive around the country to help me when Frankie has his problems. They were willing to search for car places in both situations. They called dealerships and auto shops. They gave up time with their friends, so we wouldn't lose too much time with our brother and his wife. I'm also thankful for R, J, and P. They were great to be with. The tire would not have been changed if not for J and P. J drove Frankie as he leaked brake fluid. R was extremely steady; in fact, all of them were steady. I could not have made it without all of them.

I now feel more prepared for life in dealing with cars and taking road trips.