We missed Under the Dome!

 Today the shit got real!  However, we have met some very nice people.  Linda at The Rope House helped us sign up for food stamps.  She said hopefully Friday we could get some food.  We went to St. Michael’s Church today and they gave us food.  They actually gave us food a diabetic could eat.  As a diabetic this is always a concern.  We have met two homeless couples today (both of them helped us a great deal), a Good Samaritan named John, and an old man named Russ Limpet (I am almost positive that is what he said his name was).  Before I tell our story I wanted to make sure and mention these wonderful people.  Oh! And thank you McDonalds on Chicago and US52 for taking our Canadian dollar.

            All of our days start sweaty, achy, and late now.  We are both running out of the spitfire that keeps us going.  With still silent phones we set out to the Rope House because they serve a hot meal every Mon, Wed, and Fri at noon.

            “Look for some pawn shops on the way baby because we don’t have enough gas to make it back to the campsite.”  He agreed, but he did not understand.  We stopped at the first pawn shop we saw to sell a small black powder derringer I found when packing.

            I have had the derringer for close to twenty-five years.  We had no idea what it was worth, but the gentleman told The Goat Man he was thinking about $1400, but he wanted to check with his boss and please come back later.

            When following the directions to the Rope House we found ourselves lost.  The Goat Man asked a couple on their bikes directions and they took us to the Rope House.  His name was Brian, but we did not catch his companion’s name.

            “Hey I need a driver.”

            “I don’t have a driver’s license.”

            “But your old lady does.”

            So, we got a job offer to drive Brian to work and split the money.  So we exchanged numbers.  Then they showed us around the Rope House where we had corn chowder and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Things were looking up.

            One gentleman gave me a pep talk about how life could be worse and how I should count my blessings, I gave one gentleman Motrin for a headache, and I had a conversation with a previous patient all while at the Rope House.  That is where we met Linda.

            Feeling good about today we headed back to the pawn shop.  With the sign in sight the truck began to stutter.  I felt it on the gas pedal when I tried to accelerate.

            “We are out of gas! Where do you want me to put the car?”

            “We will park it in the pawn shop parking lot.”

            “No! We are out of gas.  Where are we gonna park this?”  I spoke, as I turned left into a business with a gate.  The truck was rolling to a stop and all I was trying to do was not stop in the way of everyone else.  “Go see if we can leave the truck here until we get gas.”  The Goat Man was out of the truck in his no think action plan.

            We began to walk toward the pawn shop and away from the gas station.  We needed to sell the gun.  The Goat Man had our last $2 in his pocket.  That is when we met the Good Samaritan John.

            Looking for a gas can, The Goat Man approached Russ and John while they were working.  They gave us a gas can, and The Goat Man got a ride to the gas station and I headed to the pawn shop on foot.

            The sun seemed to get hotter and the wind fell more stagnant, but I only had about a half mile to walk.  I was happy when I hit the air conditioning of the small shop.  Behind the counter stood a man about six feet tall with about fifty pounds of too much weight.  He had tattoos all over his arms and his hair was cut short in a buzz cut.  He was reading a magazine and hardly noticed when I walked up.

            “My boyfriend was here earlier with our derringer.”  He looked up and recognition crossed his eyes.

            “Oh yeah.”  He hesitated long enough to feel uncomfortable.  “I talked to my boss and he said we can’t make any money off of it.”

            “Ok” I did not know what to say.  I tried not to crumble at my knees.  “We just needed some gas money.  My boyfriends coming but our truck ran out of gas down the road.”

            “Even if I drop $20 bucks down it is just money I am throwing away because I can’t resell it.”

            “Well, that is just business.  I’m gonna stay in your air conditioning a minute if that is okay.”

            “Yeah go ahead.”  He hesitated again.  “I am sorry.”  I believed him and walked back out into the sun.

            Good Samaritan John gave us $4 in change and a ride back to the truck.  We started it up and came back to the campsite.  It was a really sad realization.

            “It will be okay, beautiful.  We are not alone.”  I rubbed my hand on his shoulder.  He turned to look at me with glassy eyes.

            “I have never ran out of gas before in my life.”  I knew he was about to break.

            Back at the shower we ran into the same couple from yesterday.  A family of campers has arrived with several kids today.  The line for the shower was so long we didn’t get one before dark.  But we ran into Crystal and Dave.

            They live in their truck as well, but they have it together better than we do.  They scrap and have some cash flow.  They came to the campsite and we combined our meager food together to make spaghetti.  My favorite!

Reality Update:

The Goat Man is not doing very well today.  I have tried all day to get a smile.  He did go fill out an application today and talk to a guy.  It seems very promising, but they aren't gonna call with an answer before the end of the day.  I have never seen him so stressed.  He has me worried.  If he falls apart, who will keep me together?  We are flat broke, have limited food, and absolutely no gas.  We have to leave the campsite tomorrow and we have no where to go...Please pray he gets that job.  He needs to feel like a man again.