Erma Bombeck Writing Competition - Winners
2007
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition
Honorable Mention
Human Interest - Dayton
Cynthia Dunlevy
New Carlisle, Ohio
"A Blessed Reason"
| A flat tire. Grandpa sighed. In 1939, rubber was hard to come by. Our nation was in "hunker down" mood. It was everyone's duty to "make do." Grandpa had "made do" all he could with this tire. All of his tires had so many patches that had there been a fair category for "quilted" tires (most threadbare and frayed), grandpa would have won-hands down. Grandpa set off to walk the two miles to Walt's station. Walt and Grandpa went way back, so it was hard for Walt to question whether a new tire was really the remedy. Walt's pickup was a bumpy ride, but offered shelter from the bone-chilling wind that whipped across the November fields. "Yup," Walt said, "You need a new tire." Two weeks before Christmas, Walt helped Grandpa put on another new tire. Grandpa did his best to convince his two young children that Santa came early and left two new tires--a present for the whole family. Since the family's Santa-gifts allocation had dwindled, the children were encouraged to "condense" their lists and expectations. My future mom went out to the garage, glared at the tires, and gave the car a well-placed kick. Christmas came and Grandpa loaded up everyone and off they headed on State Route 40 to visit the extended family in Illinois. In Indiana, another would-be frayed and threadbare ribbon-winner blew. Grandpa gritted his teeth and gripped the wheel hard. Back then, family's packed food, blankets, and portable stoves, so the family stayed cozy while grandpa set off for help. Grandpa made it a practice to get to know folks along life's way. After the service station owners verified the need for a new tire, it was changed and off they went. Two weeks later when Grandpa strolled back into Gene's station asking for help for yet another flat, Gene's eyebrows raised. Grandpa offered, "Gene, I guess I'm just having a stroke of bad luck." Four new tires in less than three months! Why wasn't there a good used tire? A patched tire would have supported Grandpa's "make-do" values. As Grandpa and Gene changed the fourth flat, he caught Grandpa shaking his head at the heavens. Gene put his hand on Grandpa's shoulder, "Charles, there's gotta be a blessed reason you and yourns haf run into this c'here bad streak.just can't tell what's tis at this c'here moment.but it'll come." Grandpa needed that. He patted Gene on the hand, finished the change, and left. Those four new tires lasted Grandpa throughout WWII. Grandpa's car was always full, carrying colleagues to work, neighbors to the grocery or doctor appointments, or solders' families to train stations. Yes, Grandpa, there was a very "blessed reason." |