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Roder -- Jug indeed 'pulled a Mary' Tuesday, August 25, 2009
By Mary S. Roder
Much as my husband and male friends would like to believe, running out of gas is not a ladies only dilemma.
Someone I know very well, we'll call him Jug, was supposed to go pick up his son from school soon, but thought he had enough time to take some papers to his tenant for signing, The tenant lived a few miles the opposite direction of his route to the school
Jug didn't notice how low on gas he was until the engine began to sputter. The pickup stalled. He was out of gas.
Another farmer was driving by and stopped to help. Jug accepted neighbor Roger's offer to take him home to get some gas. The only gas container Jug could find in a hurry was a small one he used to fill his lawn mower.
He knew it didn't hold much gas but he was sure a little drink was all the truck needed to get back home for a real fill. Roger waited until he was sure the pickup's engine was once again percolating. Thanking him for the help, Jug turned the vehicle around to return home for a refuel before continuing on his errand.
His wife saw him coming up the lane and, before he could get to the gas barrel in his farmyard, she flagged him down with an urgent message. He was to go to school to pick up their son immediately. The time for baseball practice had been moved up and the boy had to change clothes and get his equipment.
Jug followed orders. He made a U-turn in the yard heading to town to get Ryan, the gas problem forgotten.
Back home with his son he parked in front of the house.
"I'll be ready to go back to practice in just a few," Ryan said as he jumped out of the truck, dashing into the house. Jug sat and waited, his mind occupied with the need to hurry back to town to keep his son from being late for baseball practice. That could mean the entire team would have to run extra laps around the bases after regular practice. His teammates would not appreciate that.
Ryan got to practice on time. Jug glanced at the seat Ryan had just vacated and saw it. The sheaf of papers he was supposed to get signed still lay there. He had just enough time to deliver them before supper time.
He drove past his own driveway on his way to the tenant's farm. You guessed it. He ran out of gas again -- at almost the very same place he had stopped the first time.
Running out of gas twice in the same day and at the same spot was certainly not a shining moment in his life's journey. To make matters worse, driving down the road toward him was the same neighbor who had stopped earlier.
Jug was too embarrassed to let Roger know what had happened, so he jumped out of his truck and clambered into the ditch, acting as though he was checking the fence line. Roger waved as he drove by. Jug watched until Roger was out of sight before he walked home, his pride slightly the worse for wear. True story.
It may seem strange that I am so willing to write Jug's tale, but I owe him one. The first time I heard him tell this story, he didn't know I had come into the room. He began by saying, "Boy, did I pull a Mary today."
When I questioned what he meant, he admitted he had coined the phrase "pulled a Mary" to cover any stupid, weird or embarrassing incident anyone in the family suffered. For this reason I don't have a problem with broadcasting his unbelievable goof-up.
Pulled a Mary, indeed! |
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