The Falling Oak - Learning How to Die
Copyright© 2018 by Darian Wolfe
Chapter 43: Boy in the Bubble
April 14, 2019
Hello Everyone,
Today was much more interesting than I intended it to be. My family went to a Renaissance Fair and I promptly locked my keys in the car. I was distracted as my wife and I were discussing the legality of where I was parking. So as they went and enjoyed the fair I was attempting to get into my car. First, I called my insurance company as I have a road side assistance policy. No dice, as they reimburse you later and I had eleven dollars in my pocket.
Next, I flagged down a police officer. They quit doing that about ten years ago I was told, but they would call me a wrecker. Next idea I went into the fair and started looking at the clothing vendors as one of them would have to have a metal clothes hanger. Fuck no, all were using plastic or wood. I did find one of those little red flags that surveyors and others use.
I took it back to my car and began to jimmy my lock. It just wasn’t quite long enough with the bends I had to put in it. I noticed the temperature was rising. I was starting to overheat and second guessing myself. I started to panic and caught myself. I forced myself to sit down for a few minutes and meditate and evaluate my situation. My only real solution is to get into the car because there is a/c. I would prefer not to bust a window, but I will if I get much sicker. I remembered that my wife often carries a multi-tool. So I called and asked if she had it. If she did I could make more precise bends in my piece of wire and be able to jimmy the door. She said she didn’t but her mom had shown up and had a tool box in her trunk and we could use those.
A moment later, my wife called and she said they found some Fire Dept. men and they were on the way to help me. A few minutes later, they and my family showed up. My wife shoved a quart of root beer into my hand and I drank about half of it in one go. The firemen asked if I needed medical aid. I told them if you can open my car so I can get to the a/c I’ll be fine. They had it open in less then 5 minutes. I jumped in and cooled off. I was so drained I just stayed in my car while my family finished up at the fair. My wife told me later I didn’t sound so good on so when they saw the firemen they went to them for help
We stopped to eat on the way home. As we were driving home, I told my wife this is why I’ve been upset the last few days. It’s getting warmer and I’m scared. If we’re driving somewhere and the car a/c gives out. I’m dead. I know it’s hard to imagine so think of it like this: You’re colonizing a planet. Terra-forming has just begun. It will be twenty years or so until it is habitable. Until then, if you are outside for more than 15 or so minutes at any one time without your space suit you will die. Not might, not maybe, your fellow colonizers will come out in their space suits and get your dead ass and bury it. If it’s over a certain temperature and I’m outside. I’m the dead ass colonizer.
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