Side Trips

The gas gauge on my car was reading empty, but I’d made it to the end of the week and payday.  I decided to take a few minutes on my lunch break to fuel up my car at the station across the street from work.

The station has three islands with two pumps on each.  Usually there are only three or four cars being filled at any one time. 

This time ALL the pumps were busy with more drivers waiting for a turn.  

FINE.  I’d just get in line behind the nearest car.  But wait…

 All the cars in line had tank doors on the left side.

My tank door is on the right.  This meant I’d have to approach the pump from the opposite direction.  If I pulled forward too close I’d be in the way of the car at the pump.

 When the car I was waiting for pulled away; another car behind it took its place.

 How was I going to fill my car?  And why was there such a crowd at the gas station?  Oh, yeah.  Thousands of students at the university were finishing up final exams and leaving for the Christmas break.

Sure enough, every car was stuffed to the windows with suitcases, small appliances, weasels, badgers, bicycles, guitars, snow boards, computers and pillows. Okay, I’m not absolutely positive about the weasels and badgers. 

 Gum chewing co-eds wearing painted-on pants were casually pumping gas with one hand and talking on their cell phones with the other.  I was pretty sure every service station in town would have the same crowd.

 Desperate times call for desperate measures.  I pulled in behind the nearest car, even though my tank door would be on the wrong side.

Knowing the hose might not fit across my car, I drove in as close to the pump as possible, but still forward enough that I could open my door and get out.  Fortunately, my car was small enough to make it work. 

Now I’m thinking about sending off a note to Subaru to ask them WHY??  Why would they put the gas tank door on the wrong side?