Day one: I am driving across the United States. I am leaving the East Coast driving west for new sights, new advantures.
Day two: I drove all day through the Midwest. Day three: I crossed over the Mississippi and into the plains.
This is the fourth day of my drive across the United States. It’s the desert. The land is flat and barren, but beautiful, in a strange way.
The music on the radio out here sure is different from Boston. I’m really starting to like this Tex-Mex music.
The car has been pretty good so far, but it’s a gas guzzler. I have to fill it up a lot.
Hi, what can I do for you? Boy, it’s a hot one.
Yeah, and I hear it’s gonna get hotter . . . Fill it up? Yeah, please. Uh, regular, unleaded . . . Oh, and can you check the oil?
Do you have a restroom? Yup, it’s around the corner. The key’s inside.
Excuse me, where’s the key? It’s hanging near the door.
I don’t see it. On the hook by the phone.
I put in two quarts of oil. Two quarts? why so much?
I don’t know, maybe there’s a problem. Do you really think there’s a problem?
I can’t tell. I’m not a mechanic, but the owner, he’ll be back in about an hour. He’s a mechanic, you should check with him.
Do you think I should wait? It’s up to you.
Maybe I’ll go on, how much do I owe you? That’ll be fifteen seventy-five for the gas . . . plus the oil eighteen ninety. 15.75
Cash or credit card? Cash.
You drove all the way from Massachusetts by yourself? Yup.
That’s a heck of a drive. How far are you going? San Francisco.
Keep your eye on that oil, ok? I will, thanks.
Good luck! Where am I going to sleep tonight?
I hope I can find a cheap motel out here. Maybe there’s something down this road?
The Sundowner Motel, great. Oh, no, it’s out of business.
San Francisco is still 500 miles away. Heck, I’ll drive straight through. No more motels, I’m just gonna get there.
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Oh, don’t tell me. . . Now what am I gonna do? Hi.
Hi! Hello.
Do you want to roll down your window? Car trouble, huh? Look, don’t worry about me.
I was just taking pictures. . . over there. Well, why don’t you pop open the hood, and I’ll check t out, ok?
Ok, try it now. OK, start it up.
Are you all right? Oh, my God, I am so sorry.
Do you want to sit down? Look, I’m so. Oh, God, I’m sorry. Let me see, it’s not bleeding. It s, it s not your fault. It s OK.
I know it’s not my fault, but it’s my car and I feel terrible. I should get this hood fixed.
Yeah, that’s a good idea. . . Look, look, I’m sorry I scared you. Oh, it’s ok, it’s just with all the stories you hear, you have to be careful.
So, should we try your car one more time? Yeah.
Ok, start it up. I’m afraid I don’t know what’s wrong with your car.
It’s not getting any gas. It may be the fuel pump. Well, now what am I going to do?
I see you’re from Massachusetts. Boston? Where are you going?
I’m not going anywhere until I get my car fixed. OK, well, why don’t we take my car and. . .
Uh, we’ll try to find a gas station or at least a pay phone. Maybe you could go and I’ll. . . uh, just stay here with my car.
That’s not a good idea. It’s late, and everything’s going to close soon.
Well, there has to be a twenty-four-hour place. This isn’t Boston. Things pretty much close at sundown.
Well, there’s got to be a place around here somewhere. Hey, we’re in the middle of nowhere, you may have to wait until morning.
Oh, I don’t, I don’t. . . I guess I don’t have much choice. So, you should take anything that’s valuable.
I think your car will be safe, but you never know. My cars just up the road there.
My name’s Alberto. Mine’s Rebecca.
Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, too. Are you a photographer?
No, actually I’m an architect. Photography’s just my hobby. Oh, what do you take pictures of ?
Desert, sunsets, shadows. . . light. Ow.
What is it? Are you OK? I’m fine.
Oh, I can drive if you’re not feeling well. Really, really, I’m fine.
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Do you want me to turn the heat on? The desert gets cold at night. Oh, no, I’m fine. Do you have any idea where we are?
Yeah, Mount Eagle Road. What’s that over there? Looks like a hamburger stand or something. Maybe I could make a phone call from there.
Hello. . . You. . . Hey Hello, we need a phone. . . We, we have car trouble.
There she goes. Ow, Hello.
Great! Now what?
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