It’s going to be another long night at the factory. Today two ladies called in sick & the other two could not stay and work overtime.
My mother is a bit upset because she needs to finish this order! We have over 300 garments that need to be completed this weekend and some more that are still on the cutting table and have not even been counted yet!
Marga is feeling sick today. She was throwing up and today is not a good pregnant day for her. Daniel is out making deliveries and I’ve been at this machine since 3:00, when I got out of school.
Marga starts complaining “mom, I’m not feeling well & I think I’m gonna go home.” Sure enough Marga goes to the bathroom & throws up again.
“Go home and lay down, hopefully that would help.” my mother tells her.
Marga heads out the door & a few minutes later comes back in.
“What happened?” mom asks.
“I can’t even fit behind the steering wheel to drive myself home!” Marga replies.
“Well there is nobody here to drive you home!” Mom suggests “Can you stay & lay down on the sofa?”
“No mom, I am really sick & need to go home.” Marga replies.
“I’ll drive you home!”
See I can’t stand being in the factory & sewing all evening is not what I want for myself tonight. So I will do whatever it takes to get out of here!
“But you don’t even have a license” Marga replies.
“so what! I’ve watch Danny drive the bug. I’m sure I can do it! It’s only three blocks anyway & you can’t very well walk home in your condition.”
See this was a good argument & I think I got both Mom & Marga convinced. Marga did not have a comeback. So off we go! I put it into gear & let go of the clutch. Bam! the car jerks as it stalls. Again I turn it on and Marga instructs me to let go of the clutch slowly. I drove down the street at 10MPH – the car hopping and tires chirping, but I’m heading out.
I don’t think I even made it up into third gear, but we were on our way.
I can see our street from here, so how much trouble can I get into in three short blocks. Sure enough, I turn onto Dawson St & head down towards our house in the middle of the street. I took the turn a little too quick & by this point I’m up to 20MPH.
“slow down, the driveway is coming up…” Marga tells me.
We reach the middle of the block. I slow down & start to turn into our driveway. I step on the break and…
And nothing!!! – the car isn’t stopping!!!
“Stop the car!” Marga yells
“I’m trying & nothing is happening! What do I do!!!”
Again Marga yells “Stop the caaaaar!”
We are heading right towards the chain link fence & I can see what is next…
My life flashed before my eyes! I don’t want to think about it, but I get the image of the bug parked on top of mom’s garden, the car with it’s ass sticking out of the front wall of the house.
I don’t think mom is gonna like this mess! I closed my eyes, braced for impact and prayed for the best. Suddenly, I hear the car screech and jolt to a halt! In an instant, Marga had reached for the emergency break & yanked it – 1″ from the edge of the fence!!!
PHEW! that was close. We look at each other with this face of amazement. Marga’s face is pale white & she starts doing her Lamaze breathing technique & me… I think I’m shitting in my pants in total disbelief.
We laughed so hard that my gut was hurting till the next day.
We never spoke of this to mom or anybody, but once in a while mom yells at Danny: “Why did you leave wild skid marks on the driveway.”
She smacks him in the head while he counters with “Mom, I didn’t do that!”
Anyway the secret is out now! and I’m sure glad I learned that, when stopping a car, it is important to apply pressure on the clutch as well…
Otherwise you will hit the fence!
Patty was turning the belts inside out & as soon as I finish off these hems, the dresses go to Nancy. She trims off the excess threads that may be hanging and cleans the garment. From there Nancy will pass them off to dad for a steam ironing. Then Daniel will place them on a hanger & bag them.